I met my brother-in-law for breakfast this morning and we had a long visit. I hadn't heard from him since Monday. He has been working on his porch railings. He is replacing them.
After that, I went to the dollar store and bought small toys for a girl to put in the shoebox project for the Samaratan Child. I also bought another sympathy card for my cousin's husband. She died day before yesterday. The obit came out in the Journal last night and I clipped it out and included it in the card. I thought he or one of his daughters might like to have it.
I am thinking about going to Bartlesville today just for something to do to get out of town. I haven't been there for some time...at least a month. I may ask him if he wants to go too. He may be going alone because mornings are best for him and I work the three mornings a week. He was needing some jeans. He said this morning that his were getting pretty thin.
I still haven't decided if I will go to Independence tonight for the Relay for Life. I hesitate to drive at night.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Friday At Last!
It's Friday..I don't know why I'm in such a rush for it to get here. Maybe it's because next week looks quieter. At least at this point it looks quieter. The only things on the calendar for next week are the cakes I take to Independence on Tuesday morning, a library board meeting that evening at 5:00, my hair appointment on Wednesday afternoon and the hospital's open house on Friday afternoon.
I slept like a baby last night, and thank goodness, so did the animals. Both of them slept through the night. It's 31 degrees out there so they needed to be in the house.
I covered my faucets last evening and it's good that I did. I did forget to turn on the lightbulb in the garage next to the water pipes coming into the frig. They didn't freeze though. I need to remember to do that today. When it gets cold enough, those pipes freeze. I've been lucky over the years that they have never broken. I have an old heat lamp that I put a big bulb in and clip onto the pipes out there. That usually works with enough heat to keep the water in those pipes from freezing. They were wrapped with foam coverings but that wrapping didn't keep them from freezing.
I went to a Democratic meeting last night with Marilyn and Jack. I am a registered Republican though. Anyhow Marilyn invited me. She took a large casserole dish and others did too we ate dinner there. I hadn't realized it was also a dinner but Marilyn said she had enough for me too and not to worry about it. My feeling is this election coming up is going to turn out a lot of incumbants. People are sick of what congress has done....or not done. So they need to get someone on the ticket in this Republican state so people will have a choice.
This afternoon at 1:30, I meet with the librarian for orientation. I am the new board member.
Saturday I may go to the Relay for Life in Independence. I hate that it's at night. I don't like to drive at night. The deer are on the roads around here and I don't see as well at night as in daylight. I'm still debating about it.
I slept like a baby last night, and thank goodness, so did the animals. Both of them slept through the night. It's 31 degrees out there so they needed to be in the house.
I covered my faucets last evening and it's good that I did. I did forget to turn on the lightbulb in the garage next to the water pipes coming into the frig. They didn't freeze though. I need to remember to do that today. When it gets cold enough, those pipes freeze. I've been lucky over the years that they have never broken. I have an old heat lamp that I put a big bulb in and clip onto the pipes out there. That usually works with enough heat to keep the water in those pipes from freezing. They were wrapped with foam coverings but that wrapping didn't keep them from freezing.
I went to a Democratic meeting last night with Marilyn and Jack. I am a registered Republican though. Anyhow Marilyn invited me. She took a large casserole dish and others did too we ate dinner there. I hadn't realized it was also a dinner but Marilyn said she had enough for me too and not to worry about it. My feeling is this election coming up is going to turn out a lot of incumbants. People are sick of what congress has done....or not done. So they need to get someone on the ticket in this Republican state so people will have a choice.
This afternoon at 1:30, I meet with the librarian for orientation. I am the new board member.
Saturday I may go to the Relay for Life in Independence. I hate that it's at night. I don't like to drive at night. The deer are on the roads around here and I don't see as well at night as in daylight. I'm still debating about it.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thursday Today
This will be a strange day. I will work until 11:00 and then go to Ministerial Alliance meeting.
It was a tiring night. Slinky slept in the kitchen. It was too cold and rainy for him outside on the patio. He woke me at 10:45 PM to get out to do his number and then again at 3:00 AM just to pee. I got right back to sleep after the 11:00 PM time but was just on and off after 3:00 AM. When I finally got back to sleep Missy woke me up wanting out. So I managed to sleep on and off all night. I hope the animals settle down after they get used to being in the house at night. I think it will be warm enough to put Slinky outside when I go to work. If not, he will have to spend the morning in the garage. I wil move his bed down by the hot water tank and trust it will take the edge off the cold. This winter will really be difficult. I will have to job hunt and also go to various meetings and he will spend a lot of time in the garage.
When it's chilly like this, I would just as soon spend time at home reading or posting on the computer. I do not like cold weather.
I took off work at 11:00 today so I could get to the meting before the others arrived. I walked in and voila! they were redecorating. They had the carpet rippe dup and were busy painting the walls. I asked what the plan was and was told we were to meet over at Assisted Living on Eighth Sreet. No one bothered to tell me. So all the ministers were coming to First Street instead. I sat in the car and called as many as I had cell numbers for. Then I taped a note on the front door of Windsor and left for Assisted Living.
All showed up except one. Maybe he couldn't make it at the last minute. Anyhow, after a scramble, we all got lunch...and a very good lunch it was. Then we had our meeting. Afterward, I came home to do the minutes, checked my e-mail and relaxed a bit.
Tomorrow at work, I will try to finish a huge project I started today.
It was a tiring night. Slinky slept in the kitchen. It was too cold and rainy for him outside on the patio. He woke me at 10:45 PM to get out to do his number and then again at 3:00 AM just to pee. I got right back to sleep after the 11:00 PM time but was just on and off after 3:00 AM. When I finally got back to sleep Missy woke me up wanting out. So I managed to sleep on and off all night. I hope the animals settle down after they get used to being in the house at night. I think it will be warm enough to put Slinky outside when I go to work. If not, he will have to spend the morning in the garage. I wil move his bed down by the hot water tank and trust it will take the edge off the cold. This winter will really be difficult. I will have to job hunt and also go to various meetings and he will spend a lot of time in the garage.
When it's chilly like this, I would just as soon spend time at home reading or posting on the computer. I do not like cold weather.
I took off work at 11:00 today so I could get to the meting before the others arrived. I walked in and voila! they were redecorating. They had the carpet rippe dup and were busy painting the walls. I asked what the plan was and was told we were to meet over at Assisted Living on Eighth Sreet. No one bothered to tell me. So all the ministers were coming to First Street instead. I sat in the car and called as many as I had cell numbers for. Then I taped a note on the front door of Windsor and left for Assisted Living.
All showed up except one. Maybe he couldn't make it at the last minute. Anyhow, after a scramble, we all got lunch...and a very good lunch it was. Then we had our meeting. Afterward, I came home to do the minutes, checked my e-mail and relaxed a bit.
Tomorrow at work, I will try to finish a huge project I started today.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wednesday at Work
This is a work day. I have called Carol to do my hair this afternoon at 1:30 after I get off work at noon. That should give me time to eat lunch first. I will eat the potato soup Karan gave me Sunday evening.
Tomorrow I have the Ministerial Alliance meeting. I will have to leave work early to get there in time to put out the agenda and minutes from last month's meeting.
Friday is my 1:30 meeting with the librarian.
I think I will stop at Daylight Donuts this morning and buy some donuts for the office staff. They always drink coffee all morning. I think I will get some frozen cinnamon rolls to bake the next time I go to Wal Mart. I don't need much. I usually can get what I need at the Dollar General Store and save myself a trip out to Wal Mart.
The Relay for Life is Saturday evening from 5:00 until 9:00. I would like to go but it would mean driving at night. One..I don't see well at night and Two, deer are on the roads at this time of year. So I am still thinking about it.
About 4:30 I decided I'd better get out there and leave some resumes'. I hadn't found time to deal with that yet this pay period. I managed to leave six.
Tomorrow I have the Ministerial Alliance meeting. I will have to leave work early to get there in time to put out the agenda and minutes from last month's meeting.
Friday is my 1:30 meeting with the librarian.
I think I will stop at Daylight Donuts this morning and buy some donuts for the office staff. They always drink coffee all morning. I think I will get some frozen cinnamon rolls to bake the next time I go to Wal Mart. I don't need much. I usually can get what I need at the Dollar General Store and save myself a trip out to Wal Mart.
The Relay for Life is Saturday evening from 5:00 until 9:00. I would like to go but it would mean driving at night. One..I don't see well at night and Two, deer are on the roads at this time of year. So I am still thinking about it.
About 4:30 I decided I'd better get out there and leave some resumes'. I hadn't found time to deal with that yet this pay period. I managed to leave six.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday Again
I need to clean house here today. It's been a week. Then I want to go see my sister. Service Office and Supply will be calling for me to meet them at the church too..to deliver our new copier out there. It should be a busy morning. And I need to remember to call Windsor Place with the number of ministers that will be attending Thursday's meeting. I have nothing else on the calendar for today and Wednesday but Thursday I have that CMA meeting and Friday at 1:30 I meet the librarian at the library for board member orientation. Saturday Leslie wants me to come up to Independence for Relay for Life. I'll have to think about that one. Sunday Daylight Saving Time ends and I will set the clock back an hour before I go to bed Saturday night.
I heard from Keith today. He does not leave Iraq until Thursday now. That's two days later. I hope he gets out of there safely.
I have been following the Herman Cain presidential campaign now that his sexual harrassment charges have come out. His answers sound questionable. I watched his interview with Judy on PBS yesterday and frankly, he did not act like he was telling the entire truth. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. And frankly, I don't like his 7-7-7 plan because it will make the poor and middle class pay more taxes than they do now but it would help the rich. The rich really don't need any help.
This morning we had the church's new copy machine delivered and I set it up to use. After that Bob A. and I went to lunch and met Leslie there. When I got home, I had a message on my home phone. Everett, my cousin Pat's husband, called to tell me she had passed away this morning. She had not been sick and she was only 69. They think it was her heart. Her dad and only brother passed away very young. Her dad was 40 and her brother was 50. He will be lost. Everett was devoted to Pat. Leslie and I are sending flowers and I already sent a card and letter this afternoon.
I finally saw Phyllis about 1:00. She was awake and I had a fairly good visit. I stayed thirty minutes. I also saw Gerry.
I heard from Keith today. He does not leave Iraq until Thursday now. That's two days later. I hope he gets out of there safely.
I have been following the Herman Cain presidential campaign now that his sexual harrassment charges have come out. His answers sound questionable. I watched his interview with Judy on PBS yesterday and frankly, he did not act like he was telling the entire truth. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. And frankly, I don't like his 7-7-7 plan because it will make the poor and middle class pay more taxes than they do now but it would help the rich. The rich really don't need any help.
This morning we had the church's new copy machine delivered and I set it up to use. After that Bob A. and I went to lunch and met Leslie there. When I got home, I had a message on my home phone. Everett, my cousin Pat's husband, called to tell me she had passed away this morning. She had not been sick and she was only 69. They think it was her heart. Her dad and only brother passed away very young. Her dad was 40 and her brother was 50. He will be lost. Everett was devoted to Pat. Leslie and I are sending flowers and I already sent a card and letter this afternoon.
I finally saw Phyllis about 1:00. She was awake and I had a fairly good visit. I stayed thirty minutes. I also saw Gerry.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Busy Monday
I went out to Leslie's at 8:00 this morning to clean her house. She had had other priorities the past couple of weeks...preparing for the Relay for Life this Saturday. It took me three and a half hours but when I finished, it shined. Leslie's house is always neat even when it's dusty.
After I finished, she met me for lunch. She bought lunch. Then I went home and met Bob A. to pick up our new copier for church. We couldn't get the box in the car. They will deliver it out at church tomorrow morning. Then I will clean my own house tomorrow.
While I was out at the church, I picked up a copy of our sales tax exemption and later took it to the office supply store.
The librarian called to make an appointment with me at 1:30 Friday afternoon to talk to me about orientation. (she has passed me over for a part time position there twice).
I went to the dollar store to get some groceries and a "thank you" card for Bobby.
I made some soft serve ice cream and ate that for dinner and I watched Antique Roadshow while I met my "trick or treaters" at the door. When I ran out of candy, I turned off the light, took my shower and washed my hair and got ready for bed.
I should have bought more candy, I guess.
After I finished, she met me for lunch. She bought lunch. Then I went home and met Bob A. to pick up our new copier for church. We couldn't get the box in the car. They will deliver it out at church tomorrow morning. Then I will clean my own house tomorrow.
While I was out at the church, I picked up a copy of our sales tax exemption and later took it to the office supply store.
The librarian called to make an appointment with me at 1:30 Friday afternoon to talk to me about orientation. (she has passed me over for a part time position there twice).
I went to the dollar store to get some groceries and a "thank you" card for Bobby.
I made some soft serve ice cream and ate that for dinner and I watched Antique Roadshow while I met my "trick or treaters" at the door. When I ran out of candy, I turned off the light, took my shower and washed my hair and got ready for bed.
I should have bought more candy, I guess.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Hope and Truth
The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed
I’d like to share with you this morning the scripture from Isaiah 40: 1 – 11. This is a message of hope and truth.
Isaiah 40:1–11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
The historical setting for this scripture is Babylon. It is addressed to the Jewish community in exile. The Babylonian exile, while economically more favorable to the Jewish community than staying in Israel, still threatened the community with cultural and religious assimilation.
At this time in history, the conquering of a people by another people meant that the god of the conquered people was conquered by the god of the conquerors. The action meant the loss of their personal, cultural, political, and spiritual identity. They literally lost the center on which their lives turned. The challenge before the prophet was threefold:
First he had to try to answer the question in the minds of the people: Is God still God? Second: with the loss of the temple and kingship, do the people of God still exist as a people?
And Third and last of all: Does God still care for the people?
The prophet’s answer to all these questions was a resounding, “Yes!”
There is great hope offered the people here by the prophet. They had lost all hope. They thought their God had been conquered and was no longer the God of their tribe.
The apex of the scripture comes in 40:9 with the proclamation: “Here is your God!” God is great. God still loves the people. God is honoring the covenant made with Jacob and David. God cares about you. God is here in the midst of our most terrible circumstances. “Here is your God!” There is hope. The hope of the Advent season is symbolized in the sacrament of Communion. At the Lord’s table we are reminded of God’s saving role in our lives. That saving role is not necessarily in an afterlife, it is actually for us in the present day…in this life. Many people find life so difficult that they give up hope of anything getting better. In God we find hope for our lives and in God we receive the promise of God’s continuing presence with us. And this morning as we partake of the emblems of the sacrament, God’s glory is once again revealed to us.
Central to this scripture is the age old question: Is God good? Is God great? The next central questions are: How has God shown involvement in our lives? Has there ever been a time when God has seemed absent from our life? If so, how did God return to us?
God is good because God is always with us. God is great because God continually works in our lives to help us make good decisions and to comfort us when all seems lost and we feel alone with our life dilemmas. Sometimes God seems a long way away from us but it is not because God has withdrawn. It is because we have stopped listening to God’s voice. We have withdrawn. That is truth. Truth, and our search for it, is also a part of the glory of the Lord. And how do we recognize truth when we find it? The Buddha told this story.
"A young widower, who loved his five year old son very much, was away on business when bandits came who burned down the whole village and took his son away. When the man returned, he saw the ruins and panicked. Then he took the burnt corpse of an infant to be his son and cried uncontrollably. He organized a cremation ceremony, collected the ashes and put them in a beautiful little bag which he always kept with him. Soon afterwards, his real son escaped from the bandits and found his way home. He arrived at his father's new cottage at midnight and knocked at the door. The father, still grieving asked: "Who is it?" The child answered, it is me papa, open the door!" But in his agitated state of mind, convinced his son was dead, the father thought that some young boy was making fun of him. He shouted: "Go away" and continued to cry. After some time, the child left.
Father and son never saw each other again."
After this story, the Buddha said: "Sometime, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. If you cling to it so much, even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it."
Let us open our minds always for truth. Let us be open to truth.
As we prepare for the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper today, let us examine these questions for ourselves and attempt to answer them silently for our own lives.
When we miss God in our lives and feel we are all alone, and no longer hear that still small voice. It is not because God has deserted us. It is because we have withdrawn into ourselves and have ignored God. If we want to return to God, God is always right there ready to help us with the big decisions in our lives to comfort us in our worst dilemmas. God is with us in our worst moments and also in our best moments. If we recognize that, we will find the courage to face whatever may come our way in life. God is still God. God is the God of all people and God still cares deeply for us.
That is truth.
I’d like to share with you this morning the scripture from Isaiah 40: 1 – 11. This is a message of hope and truth.
Isaiah 40:1–11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
The historical setting for this scripture is Babylon. It is addressed to the Jewish community in exile. The Babylonian exile, while economically more favorable to the Jewish community than staying in Israel, still threatened the community with cultural and religious assimilation.
At this time in history, the conquering of a people by another people meant that the god of the conquered people was conquered by the god of the conquerors. The action meant the loss of their personal, cultural, political, and spiritual identity. They literally lost the center on which their lives turned. The challenge before the prophet was threefold:
First he had to try to answer the question in the minds of the people: Is God still God? Second: with the loss of the temple and kingship, do the people of God still exist as a people?
And Third and last of all: Does God still care for the people?
The prophet’s answer to all these questions was a resounding, “Yes!”
There is great hope offered the people here by the prophet. They had lost all hope. They thought their God had been conquered and was no longer the God of their tribe.
The apex of the scripture comes in 40:9 with the proclamation: “Here is your God!” God is great. God still loves the people. God is honoring the covenant made with Jacob and David. God cares about you. God is here in the midst of our most terrible circumstances. “Here is your God!” There is hope. The hope of the Advent season is symbolized in the sacrament of Communion. At the Lord’s table we are reminded of God’s saving role in our lives. That saving role is not necessarily in an afterlife, it is actually for us in the present day…in this life. Many people find life so difficult that they give up hope of anything getting better. In God we find hope for our lives and in God we receive the promise of God’s continuing presence with us. And this morning as we partake of the emblems of the sacrament, God’s glory is once again revealed to us.
Central to this scripture is the age old question: Is God good? Is God great? The next central questions are: How has God shown involvement in our lives? Has there ever been a time when God has seemed absent from our life? If so, how did God return to us?
God is good because God is always with us. God is great because God continually works in our lives to help us make good decisions and to comfort us when all seems lost and we feel alone with our life dilemmas. Sometimes God seems a long way away from us but it is not because God has withdrawn. It is because we have stopped listening to God’s voice. We have withdrawn. That is truth. Truth, and our search for it, is also a part of the glory of the Lord. And how do we recognize truth when we find it? The Buddha told this story.
"A young widower, who loved his five year old son very much, was away on business when bandits came who burned down the whole village and took his son away. When the man returned, he saw the ruins and panicked. Then he took the burnt corpse of an infant to be his son and cried uncontrollably. He organized a cremation ceremony, collected the ashes and put them in a beautiful little bag which he always kept with him. Soon afterwards, his real son escaped from the bandits and found his way home. He arrived at his father's new cottage at midnight and knocked at the door. The father, still grieving asked: "Who is it?" The child answered, it is me papa, open the door!" But in his agitated state of mind, convinced his son was dead, the father thought that some young boy was making fun of him. He shouted: "Go away" and continued to cry. After some time, the child left.
Father and son never saw each other again."
After this story, the Buddha said: "Sometime, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. If you cling to it so much, even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it."
Let us open our minds always for truth. Let us be open to truth.
As we prepare for the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper today, let us examine these questions for ourselves and attempt to answer them silently for our own lives.
When we miss God in our lives and feel we are all alone, and no longer hear that still small voice. It is not because God has deserted us. It is because we have withdrawn into ourselves and have ignored God. If we want to return to God, God is always right there ready to help us with the big decisions in our lives to comfort us in our worst dilemmas. God is with us in our worst moments and also in our best moments. If we recognize that, we will find the courage to face whatever may come our way in life. God is still God. God is the God of all people and God still cares deeply for us.
That is truth.
Sunday Again
Yesterday I had breakfast with my brother-in-law and then later went out to Wal Mart for ink cartidges for my printer. I knew I would be doing my newsletters this afternoon. After that I intended to go see my sister before leaving for Independence and the Neewallah parade. But I noticed I was nearly out of gas. So I went out to South Coffeyville to get gas where it was $3.27 instead of $3.49 as it is here in Coffeyville. By then it was time to leave for Independence so I will have to see her Tuesday. I will clean Leslie's house on Monday.
Tonight we have the Living the Questions group out at Richard and Mona's house in rural Cherryvale. We are going to have dinner there so I am fixing Broccoli Cheddar soup. We are having soup and chili. We are meeting at 5:30 at Maritt's and car pooling out there.
Even though I have been treating Slinky's ears with olive oil for over a week and a half, he still scratches them. I don't know whether it's working or not. I will continue for awhile and see. It could just be habit by now.
Missy has been staying in the house all night ever since I bought that nice bed for Slinky. She sleeps on it. He still sleeps out on the chaise on the patio and will until it gets too cold for him. I need to get flea medication for Slinky. He's out of it.
Tonight we have the Living the Questions group out at Richard and Mona's house in rural Cherryvale. We are going to have dinner there so I am fixing Broccoli Cheddar soup. We are having soup and chili. We are meeting at 5:30 at Maritt's and car pooling out there.
Even though I have been treating Slinky's ears with olive oil for over a week and a half, he still scratches them. I don't know whether it's working or not. I will continue for awhile and see. It could just be habit by now.
Missy has been staying in the house all night ever since I bought that nice bed for Slinky. She sleeps on it. He still sleeps out on the chaise on the patio and will until it gets too cold for him. I need to get flea medication for Slinky. He's out of it.
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