P.S...

Next for Jon is one week hold for holiday, then three weeks of Airborne training. He may even get to complete 'halo' high altitude jump before he moves on. After he completes Airborne he is headed to Ft.Bragg, NC and Special Forces. Special Forces training could last up to two years.

A trip to Georgia

As I remember, the last time I went to Georgia I hated the weather. I hated it this time too! ha ha Its summer, its hot and its HUMID!!! We're still here and won't be heading toward home till tomorrow.

I also hadn't been to a military graduation; what a fabulous experience. P2 (private E2) Jonathon Carr is an exceptional young man. He is actively pursuing his goals and we believe he will accomplish anything he attempts. He is driven and ambitious. In a graduating class of over 100 men there were only two awards of merit and he earned one; "excellence in physical fitness".

While here celebrating with Jon we've had a little fun. We've gone to some doggy outdoor games, an interesting Antique Mall and stock car races at the East Arkansas Motor Speedway.

I can't even start to explain how I miss my boys. Bubba and Mijo are in my thoughts constantly. We haven't been apart this long since I used to travel for work.

Hate to go but I'm fighting a nap with all my strength.

More later ...........

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

Grotto of the Redemption

Until last year I had never heard of the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. I guess both my folks and many people I know had gone to it decades ago but hadn't since then. To say the least it was a GLORIOUS experience. Nine actual 'grottos' in all, one inside the church, what Father Dobberstien started turned into something truly amazing. If you ever get the chance to witness it for yourself, please don't pass it up.

As well as my first visit to the Grotto it was Mom & Dad's inaugural trip with their RV. It went great!!! The mosquitoes were the only bummer at the camp ground; that and Dad's baptism of rinse water at the RV dump station. HA HA HA HA HA I think we all agree that our next camping trip needs to involve drowning worms. None of us have been fishing yet this year and its about time.

This morning was Angel Food Distribution again. We thought for a bit that we might not have nearly enough help, but as usual it turned out just perfect. We're very glad to be involved now more than ever as there are so many folks who really need the grocery relief due to the natural disasters that seem to be plaguing this part of the country this year.

Mom & Dad celebrated 49 years of marriage today!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Thank you Lord for bringing them together and therefore bringing me into the world.

Tomorrow I pack for a trip with my Sis. We're heading to Georgia for PFC Jon Carr's graduation from Basic Training and AIT. Not sure if you remember but Jon is extended family that we love very much and are very proud of. After this graduation he is off to Airborne training and eventually Special Forces ..... WOW We pray for him every day; please join us.

Well I better head. Another couple loads of laundry to finish so I can pack and one of my all time favorite classic movies just came on ...... YOU'VE GOT MAIL

More later .......

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

Another crochet ministry

I love it that each month Lion Brand Yarn gives us information about ministries or charities based on knitting and crochet. This month is another great one that anyone can contribute to.

Each month, we feature an organization that is knitting and crocheting for a good cause. This month's organization is the Seamen's Church Institute (SCI), founded in 1834, and its "Christmas at Sea" program. Over 17,000 gifts are knitted and crocheted by over 4,000 volunteers across the United States and distributed to seamen and mariners who are at sea during the holiday season by SCI. Life on the seas can be isolating and the weather can get quite harsh. The handmade gifts from volunteers include hats, scarves, socks, vests, and helmets. In addition to the Christmas at Sea program, each year, SCI visits almost 3,000 vessels and provides social services and pastoral care. If you're interested in donating to Christmas at Sea, you can use any pattern of your choosing. A variety of patterns can be found at SCI's website; other easy patterns include Ed's Hat and the Basic Sampler Scarf. Yarns used should be machine-washable. Four-ply yarn should be used for all garments except socks, which should be a 3-ply sport-weight yarn. (Wool-Ease is a good, machine-washable choice, with a lot of color options.) When choosing your colors, please keep in mind that most mariners are men. SCI also asks that you do not mix yarns within a garment. For variety, it recommends that you use ombre, variegated, tweed, or flecked yarns. For more information and guidelines, please see their participation guidelines. Although Christmas is 6 months away, gift packing begins not long after Labor Day. Therefore, SCI encourages volunteers to send donations in the fall, although donations are accepted throughout the year. If you would like to donate items, you can send them to: Christmas-at-Sea 241 Water Street New York, NY 10028 Please include your name and address within the package so that they can acknowledge its receipt. For more information, visit SeamensChurch.org. Photos courtesy of Seamen's Church Institute

Does anyone have an ARC for sale?

Just when you think you've got things under control another S-turn jumps in your path. The heavy rains in this area and North of here have really done a number on the local rivers. The Cedar and Shell Rock rivers are out of their banks and flooding many towns and farms in the area. Many friends and family members have had to sand bag at the least and seen their homes completely submerged at the most. This morning Dad & Bubba were helping a neighbor with use of a generator and a water transfer pump. Dad's gone to locate another sump pump for their basement. Theirs is still working but is quite old and he wants to have a back up so Mom's Industrial Sewing business doesn't flood.

Yesterday Mom & Dad took a long drive through Clarksville, Greene and the surrounding area. She took some amazing pics you should see; check out http://bertha-hobbyhillseamstress.blogspot.com/

Bubba & I drove through Shell Rock around noon and I snapped some shots of the river at the Cherry Street Bridge.

The firemen were parked at one end, keeping an eye on the bridge. I went back over the bridge to take pictures at Vacation Bible School but when I came home the bridge had been closed. They had firetrucks parked across each end along with yellow tape. I didn't have a cell phone with me but the Lord guided me, very calmly, to help. I was amazed. In this situation I would typically panic a bit but God took me by the hand and led me to the home of Mom's best friend where I could relax, chat with Sharane and call home (and play with their shi-tzu puppy) ;-). Dad told me where the next bridge to the East was and I backtracked my way through the country and made it home safely. This morning the roads that I took last night were under water ........... I am so blessed.

This pic is taken from the Cherry Street bridge at noon Monday. Where the water breaks is the dam which usually drops between 6 & 10 feet. This bridge was closed between 6:45 & 8:00 last night because there was not enough room for the floating logs and debris to pass under.

I understand the rivers have subsided just a bit in Shell Rock this morning but we're expecting more storms for the next three days.

Please pray with us for the hundreds of people dramatically effected by the flooding in Iowa. Adding insult to injury after the tornadoes of two weeks ago is a hard hit but these are strong, resilient, Christians who will hold each other up in any way they can. I ask a specific prayer for Frank and Barb Vance whose subterranean home was completely submerged by the river. May God bless them and keep them in this time of struggle and recovery.

More later ........

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

How could we be so busy?

After a few nights of broken sleep due to storms we really thought we had it made yesterday. We enjoyed oatmeal and raisins for breakfast; a comfort food from childhood. Dad headed for the asparagus patch to weed while I worked on the flower bed in our corner of the world. Mom went to her shop to sew an order for a customer and Bubba went to Mom's computer to see what he could do to fix a few problems. By lunch time we had accomplished bunches and I took some time to check e-mail, read blogs, balance accounts and put a few things away.

Bubba popped in the door and told me Dad's frig quit working. You know what we did for most of the afternoon .... move food from their frig to ours and to their RV frig, pull the back off the machine, clean it up and see if we could find any visible problems. Not ... I'm hoping Jon, my nieces husband, might have a chance to stop over and look at it. He's experienced in plumbing, air conditioning and refrigeration. I don't think it would break Dad's heart if he needed to buy a new refrigerator/freezer. He doesn't care much for this one. We'll see. It seems that places to pour money seem to be opening in every direction this summer. I pray it stops before we all go broke. HA HA HA

It did make way for a good healthy supper like we haven't had in a while. We did our best to create more space in the frigs by eating up a bunch of salad makings and cooking up some brats to go with it. YUMMY It was one of the simplest and best meals we've had in a while. With cottage cheese on the side and Melon for dessert, we all felt good after eating instead of feeling guilty.

Well, its off to the church this morning. Bubba signed up to mow the church yard for a couple weeks, Vacation Bible School starts tomorrow night and we want it to look good. We're expecting more storms every day for the next week so we're gonna try and get this done before it starts up again. They have two mowers so I will be able to help him knock it out in half the time, we hope.

Better scoot. So much to do! hee hee

More later......

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

Here it comes again

Here it comes again. Bad weather expected for the Midwest again today and tonight. There is a high risk of tornado activity in the area later today and I intend to be as ready as I can be. The wind gusts and sheets of rain sent us running into the house in the early morning hours last night. YUCK

What must I do to consider myself 'ready' for a big storm. Well, I think of the things that we might need while in the basement during a storm or shortly after. We gather flashlights, weather radios and blankets. We put a few bottles of water in a cooler, then we think about prescription medicines and copies of financial information and insurance policies. If we have time to plan ahead, such as today, I pack a little bag with the small, valuable and uninsured items we posses like laptops, cameras and my gemstone collection. I consider photos but remember that I've packed many off to storage and the rest are in photo albums that simply take up too much space. In a tornado I guess I consider them expendable.

I feel extremely fortunate, in times like these, that Bubba and I have learned how to live in such a small space and have enjoyed the liberation of being freed from most of our worldly possessions. When it all comes down to staying safe in a bad storm, the most and ultimately ONLY important thing is preserving life.

We thank GOD for each and every day he gives us. We strive to live the life he chooses for us. We try to understand that the struggles we go through serve to strengthen our faith and our resolve to make Love the most important thing in the world.

More later .......

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

THANK THE LORD FOR EACH DAY AND EACH EXPERIENCE

Its been years

I haven't made homemade saffron bread since we lived in Calimesa, over three years ago. The inspiration struck me again today and that was one of the fun chores I accomplished. ;-)
A loaf for us, a loaf for Mom & Dad and a loaf for my brother Bryan and his family who were here for a while today.

More later .........

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH

Another beautiful Sunday

I'm fighting a desperate desire to take a nap, so forgive me if I don't make the best sense.

Another glorious day. Elvin and Dorothy came to church with us where we celebrated confirmation and communion and topped it off with cake and coffee after. They had other lunch plans so won't be back till tonight. Mom, Dad, Bubba and I met Darlys and Jan, my aunts from Minnesota, for lunch in Waverly and they came home with us for the buffet of pie (more about that later). What a blast. I think the six of us could laugh and carry on for days on end if we didn't feel the need for sleep.

As you can see, there is no family resemblance at all ............. ha ha ha ha ha

The buffet of pies has not yet ended. Mom & Dad's asparagus and rhubarb beds are very productive! We've enjoyed creamed asparagus over toast, steamed asparagus and bagged some for the freezer. This week it was rhubarb fest. Dad has been making some great rhubarb crisps and I wanted to see if we could find some new interesting recipes. Yesterday he made a double strawberry pie for Elvin, the rhubarb hater, and we both tried a new rhubarb recipe. He made a rhubarb custard pie and I made a banana / rhubarb cream pie; sugar free of course. YUMMY!!!!!!! Tonight I think I'll try the rhubarb coffee cake. I saved enough buttermilk back for that recipe from Bubba's garlic mashed taters and cold buttermilk cravings.

Mom & Dad might have to go on their first camping adventure this week without us. It has rained so much here lately that I'm convinced the yard is far too soft for us to pull out and back in again. We were hoping to get a three day outing in before Vacation Bible School starts on the 8th. I've volunteered to be their photographer again and Bubba signed up to mow the church yard for a couple weeks. He's really become the lawn mower man.

Before I close my eyes in the bean bag chair for 30 minutes or so, one last tidbit to pass along. My Dad strives to be all things to all people. He attempts to keep many of his efforts anonymous but there are some things done for specific folks which are quite obvious. Today a token of thanks was presented for his efforts to help the Feast and Fellowship committee at church. Dad's knees are in poor shape and it makes it nearly impossible for him to get off the ground when he's gardening; though it continues to be one of his great loves. Today we found these tokens at the edge of the recently tilled and planted (by Dad & Bubba) church garden.

More later .......

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH