My Mom is totally awesome! She can read more books each week than anyone I know. I don't know how she does it. She never even took a speed reading class. I, however, slog through books at a painstakingly slow pace. It's not that I don't like to read, I do, but I'm just not made to sit still reading for long periods of time. Therefore, if I can actually finish a book every two weeks or so, I'm doing well.
I really enjoyed the last book I read about football player, Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill's son, who struggled his entire life of nine years with an incurable disease. It was a wonderful testament to the strong faith the couple eventually shared and the love and devotion to their son and finally, each other that kept them together through really dark days.
I also managed to complete a wonderful compilation of stories about miracles, angel encounters and answered prayers. My periodontist loaned it to me. We had so much fun discussing it, he loaned me another one. My current book, however, is about another family that struggles with the loss of a child. This is a topic very dear to my heart, as I've had close friends walk this painful road.
Choosing To See is the story of Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman. He is a very popular Christian songwriter and performer. They have three biological children, all nearly grown, and had adopted three beautiful Chinese girls. Their family seemed so perfect, with the blending of the older big brothers and sister and the precious, yet precocious little preschoolers. Then, in a minute, it all turned tragic, when one of the little girls managed to stray into the path of the family SUV, with one of her older brothers at the wheel. Their perfect story wasn't perfect any more.
I'm enjoying this book, learning about how this couple met and how they began their lives together. I'll let you know how it goes. I already have four books lined up to read after this one. I'm really looking forward to reading the book written by Mark Krebs, the Kentucky Basketball player who's mom struggled to live to see his senior day activities at Rupp Arena. Another I've been wanting to read for years, I finally ordered from Joseph-Beth, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers. Always thought that sounded like a good one.
But, enough about books. We are having our weekly Wednesday snowfall. Last Wednesday, I was driving around Lexington in that white stuff, hoping to get home before our driveway was impassable. I had hoped to get out today, the jury is still out on that one.
The weather has made getting together with old friends particularly difficult. Our monthly get togethers with our fellow Class of '74 alumni have ground to a halt. It's impossible to plan things like that with this type of winter. I miss seeing my friends. It's always so great reminiscing about old times and catching up on everyone's lives now.
Because I'm very active in planning our reunions, I'm always hoping to see new faces each time we meet. Sadly I learned yesterday that one of those classmates will never make a reunion. It's always such a shock when you see an obituary for one of your schooltime buddies. I hate it that I missed the chance to catch up with my junior high school buddy, Wesley.
My house was turned into a dog grooming salon yesterday and this morning. Five fuzzy white dogs got their baths and their coats brushed out, kinda. I'm still working on it.
I hope you're staying warm and safe. We're doing our best here. Take care......luv, Susan
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
1000 DAYS
I'm a baby boomer. My childhood memories are all those Ozzie and Harriet/Leave It To Beaver type memories. Things were so much simpler then. It was a wonderful time to be a child in the fifties and sixties. Well, it was wonderful, up to a point. Tomorrow marks the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. He was in office for 10000 days. The clock is ticking.....fifty years ago. We will be living through the golden anniversaries of each and every day of his presidency. I don't know what your recollections are of this time in our history, but mine are very vivid. I adored President Kennedy and his wife and children, in fact, the whole Kennedy clan. I thought they were perfect. In hindsight, I know that he wasn't perfect, nor was the family. But, as an American child watching this idyllic chapter unfold on TV and in the many magazines, like Look and Life, I saw a perfectly ideal story. I thought Washington and the White House were truly magical places. What a difference from today, although, I do think our current president and his wife and family actually come closest to the fun and promise of the Kennedy family. Like I said, I will be paying special attention these next 1000 days to how the media remembers the Kennedy era. I'm getting ready for a roller coaster ride of remembering.
We have had rain these past two days. I saw only a few small mounds of snow left along the driveway and across the street. I believe it is supposed to get colder and we can expect more snow in the weeks ahead. I'm keeping busy with trying to tie up loose ends regarding 2010.
You may be aware that the Kentucky basketball team has a very young team. I believe our three top scorers are all freshman. SEC road games can be difficult to say the least. After the lesson at Georgia, I had hoped that we would handle the Alabama Crimson Tide early on, thus taking the high decibel student following out of the mix. Well, the Wildcats did try to get on track, but the previously weak three point shooting tide decided to hit most all of it's three point shots. It was amazing. We were rattled to say the least. It doesn't help when your own players manage to tip in opponents rebounds. I was, however, happy to see that the young cats could gather themselves together for a comeback. It was an exciting game, I know the Alabama crowd enjoyed it immensely. The Big Blue Nation, not so much. But, we did see a good game and the grit and determination of a band of freshmen and other upperclassmen. Stay tuned.
I hope you're warm and dry in your part of the state. Have a wonderful and safe day. luv, Susan
We have had rain these past two days. I saw only a few small mounds of snow left along the driveway and across the street. I believe it is supposed to get colder and we can expect more snow in the weeks ahead. I'm keeping busy with trying to tie up loose ends regarding 2010.
You may be aware that the Kentucky basketball team has a very young team. I believe our three top scorers are all freshman. SEC road games can be difficult to say the least. After the lesson at Georgia, I had hoped that we would handle the Alabama Crimson Tide early on, thus taking the high decibel student following out of the mix. Well, the Wildcats did try to get on track, but the previously weak three point shooting tide decided to hit most all of it's three point shots. It was amazing. We were rattled to say the least. It doesn't help when your own players manage to tip in opponents rebounds. I was, however, happy to see that the young cats could gather themselves together for a comeback. It was an exciting game, I know the Alabama crowd enjoyed it immensely. The Big Blue Nation, not so much. But, we did see a good game and the grit and determination of a band of freshmen and other upperclassmen. Stay tuned.
I hope you're warm and dry in your part of the state. Have a wonderful and safe day. luv, Susan
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
SNOW, BLUEBIRDS AND FLAT TIRES
Good morning from Central Kentucky! The snow continues to fall here for the second day. Actually, it's hard to tell if it's falling or just blowing around. Unlike the previous snow accumulations, this time it is really light and powdery and the wind has been blowing it around, rather than letting it accumulate and stay put. I must add though, that it is cold out there. My cheeks stung yesterday after spending time out with the dogs and shaking the deer feeder and filling the birdfeeders. The larger deer can simply paw at their feeder out back and allow the corn to travel down the chute. The five smaller deer who visited yesterday morning, didn't seem to be able to do that, so it took a good pounding on to get the corn down in the tray. I'll have to check this morning to see if the tray is still full.
Birds are such an enjoyment for me. I had just mentioned to Mark that there were certainly a lot of bluebirds noticeable on Sunday. Not only do I enjoy seeing them around, but in the Spring it is especially fun to watch them pair up and go house hunting. Because we have many windows, it is a common problem for birds to whack into them, mistaking the reflection for the sky. Depending on the impact, they often simply fly away, but on many occasions I have picked up dead cardinals, hummingbirds or other species, when they haven't recovered from the initial hit. It appeared a cardinal had met his end over the weekend as his red feathers can still be seen buried in the snow on the deck, really sad.
Tuesday I heard a thump at the front of the house. Upon investigation, I saw a female bluebird lying on the front steps. I could see movement, so I decided to keep her warm while she shook off the blow. It was only a matter of hours before she was active in one of the dog kennels. I was perfectly delighted to see her fly into the trees upon her departure.
Monday was a difficult day for me. For Christmas, I asked for fencing to keep the dogs from wandering into danger. I should have asked for new tires. Because I've had two previous flat tires, I kinda knew that when I pulled into a driveway, what I was gonna find. Yep, the back passenger side tire was indeed flat. Because my phone was dead and I knew I needed to replace the tires anyway, I decided to drive my car precariously back home so I could call the Amen House where I volunteer. Thankfully, I made it home safely and was able to learn my fellow volunteers had everything under control. So, I merely called Mark to let him know of the predicament. He's such a "why wait til tomorrow sort" that he had the tire changed and new tires on just hours after he was home from his busy work day. Yes, I'm spoiled, I must admit.
Let me say, I have tried to change a tire. Twice I tried. First time I was in Bowling Green and my friend, Jerri and I did everything we could to get the bolts off that hold the tire in place. Finally, some friendly WKU students across the street came over and did it for us. Second time, I was making an attempt at changing a tire on Mark's truck, when some nice sanitation workers in Georgetown offered to do it for me. So, this being my third such opportunity, I chose to drive home on the useless tire, rather than try yet again, this time in not so ideal conditions. In other words, Monday was really cold!! I'm just thankful I have a husband who understands and takes care of that car thingy stuff for me.
I recently posted my belief that you can be as close to God as you want to be. Well, you can't be close to Him unless you seek His word and His guidance daily. This mornings UpperRoom verse is one of the best, for sure. I'm not surprised that it is underlined and noted in my Bible. Although it lists Romans 10:10-17, I prefer to back up to begin at verse 9, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." This is an awesome truth that we Christians hinge our faith upon. Because of what Jesus did, He made it so simple for us to confess our sins and then accept Him as our savior. He did all the work for us. He has done the hard part. He loves us so much, He spoils us, so that we don't have to do all that suffering. Thank you God for understanding us and taking care of all that difficult stuff for us.
Yes, I'm spoiled by my husband, my parents and my God. You can be too, simply by accepting His son as your savior. I am actually enjoying the snow this time of year. I will appreciate the beauty and take the time to be thankful for all my many blessings. I hope you stay warm and enjoy a safe and wonderful day, luv, Susan
Birds are such an enjoyment for me. I had just mentioned to Mark that there were certainly a lot of bluebirds noticeable on Sunday. Not only do I enjoy seeing them around, but in the Spring it is especially fun to watch them pair up and go house hunting. Because we have many windows, it is a common problem for birds to whack into them, mistaking the reflection for the sky. Depending on the impact, they often simply fly away, but on many occasions I have picked up dead cardinals, hummingbirds or other species, when they haven't recovered from the initial hit. It appeared a cardinal had met his end over the weekend as his red feathers can still be seen buried in the snow on the deck, really sad.
Tuesday I heard a thump at the front of the house. Upon investigation, I saw a female bluebird lying on the front steps. I could see movement, so I decided to keep her warm while she shook off the blow. It was only a matter of hours before she was active in one of the dog kennels. I was perfectly delighted to see her fly into the trees upon her departure.
Monday was a difficult day for me. For Christmas, I asked for fencing to keep the dogs from wandering into danger. I should have asked for new tires. Because I've had two previous flat tires, I kinda knew that when I pulled into a driveway, what I was gonna find. Yep, the back passenger side tire was indeed flat. Because my phone was dead and I knew I needed to replace the tires anyway, I decided to drive my car precariously back home so I could call the Amen House where I volunteer. Thankfully, I made it home safely and was able to learn my fellow volunteers had everything under control. So, I merely called Mark to let him know of the predicament. He's such a "why wait til tomorrow sort" that he had the tire changed and new tires on just hours after he was home from his busy work day. Yes, I'm spoiled, I must admit.
Let me say, I have tried to change a tire. Twice I tried. First time I was in Bowling Green and my friend, Jerri and I did everything we could to get the bolts off that hold the tire in place. Finally, some friendly WKU students across the street came over and did it for us. Second time, I was making an attempt at changing a tire on Mark's truck, when some nice sanitation workers in Georgetown offered to do it for me. So, this being my third such opportunity, I chose to drive home on the useless tire, rather than try yet again, this time in not so ideal conditions. In other words, Monday was really cold!! I'm just thankful I have a husband who understands and takes care of that car thingy stuff for me.
I recently posted my belief that you can be as close to God as you want to be. Well, you can't be close to Him unless you seek His word and His guidance daily. This mornings UpperRoom verse is one of the best, for sure. I'm not surprised that it is underlined and noted in my Bible. Although it lists Romans 10:10-17, I prefer to back up to begin at verse 9, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." This is an awesome truth that we Christians hinge our faith upon. Because of what Jesus did, He made it so simple for us to confess our sins and then accept Him as our savior. He did all the work for us. He has done the hard part. He loves us so much, He spoils us, so that we don't have to do all that suffering. Thank you God for understanding us and taking care of all that difficult stuff for us.
Yes, I'm spoiled by my husband, my parents and my God. You can be too, simply by accepting His son as your savior. I am actually enjoying the snow this time of year. I will appreciate the beauty and take the time to be thankful for all my many blessings. I hope you stay warm and enjoy a safe and wonderful day, luv, Susan
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Priority One
This is starting out to be a really awesome year. My hope is that you are also experiencing a good start to 2011. I've enjoyed the remnants of the holidays and now it's time to get them put away til after Thanksgiving. Instead of dwelling on the miraculous birth of Christ, I will again direct my attention to the cross. It has been there, looming all along, simply being upstaged by the manger in the stable and the joyous birth of our savior. The cross now takes itself center-stage, once again, as the means by which He saved us.
Our snow was gone in about two days. Because the temperatures skyrocketed from, say, 15 to 51 in about thirty six hours, it didn't take long for the snow on our hill to become a raging little river at the bottom of the property. It was unusual to hear the rushing water and see the flowing currents when there wasn't even a drop of precipitation. I know the ground welcomed the refreshing drink after the drought we experienced in late summer.
I've certainly got my work cut out for me this month. I hope to make the basement more pet friendly for the dogs. In other words, it's time to go through all the boxes and remove them from the premises. This may take longer than a month. I hope I can do it all without employing one of the professional companies that has targeted this endeavor or one of the reality shows that features many of these poor misguided hoarders living in their cluttered abodes. We'll see.....
As this new year marches on, I will continue to do the one thing that I have made my life's calling several years ago. That is to try to be closer to God with each passing day. I once read that we could each be as close to God as we wanted to be. Because His desire is always to be closer to each of us, we merely have to be willing to put Him at the top of our priority list each day. When we do that, we will find our lives becoming more in line with how He intends for us to live, thereby growing closer to Him. Nuff said.
It is a beautiful sunny, yet cold day in Central Kentucky. I should get started on the things that need to be done here. You have a wonderful and safe day, luv, Susan
Our snow was gone in about two days. Because the temperatures skyrocketed from, say, 15 to 51 in about thirty six hours, it didn't take long for the snow on our hill to become a raging little river at the bottom of the property. It was unusual to hear the rushing water and see the flowing currents when there wasn't even a drop of precipitation. I know the ground welcomed the refreshing drink after the drought we experienced in late summer.
I've certainly got my work cut out for me this month. I hope to make the basement more pet friendly for the dogs. In other words, it's time to go through all the boxes and remove them from the premises. This may take longer than a month. I hope I can do it all without employing one of the professional companies that has targeted this endeavor or one of the reality shows that features many of these poor misguided hoarders living in their cluttered abodes. We'll see.....
As this new year marches on, I will continue to do the one thing that I have made my life's calling several years ago. That is to try to be closer to God with each passing day. I once read that we could each be as close to God as we wanted to be. Because His desire is always to be closer to each of us, we merely have to be willing to put Him at the top of our priority list each day. When we do that, we will find our lives becoming more in line with how He intends for us to live, thereby growing closer to Him. Nuff said.
It is a beautiful sunny, yet cold day in Central Kentucky. I should get started on the things that need to be done here. You have a wonderful and safe day, luv, Susan
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