The Value of Family

For those of you who don't know him, this is Dr. Voddie Baucham, a pastor, writer, and leader in many issues that affect the family. He is a refreshing voice for many issues I hold dear. This is one of those issues. If our nation is to survive, more folks will need to be sounding this same message.

Flowers and Fro

I am so sorry that I didn't keep my promise to come back the next day with another picture taken with my new camera! Actually, I wanted to leave Lena at the top for a few days, anyway.

Would you believe that I hadn't planted any flowers until today? The reason for this is a long story which would bore you so I won't bother to explain. Finally, the other day I got a flat of impatiens, but didn't have any potting soil until yesterday so that was today's project. Here's a picture of one of the hanging plants which doesn't look the greatest yet; however, I thought maybe in a few weeks I'll take a picture of the same planter and let you see how it's progressing. Now, our flowers will be nothing like my bloggy friend Cathy's, but at least we're trying. My hubby usually cares for the flowers after they're planted, because I have a bad habit of forgetting about them. Obviously, gardening is not one of my strengths.

Well, today's other project was taking Fro to the vet for his yearly shots and checkup. He always is a charmer when he goes and gets lots of attention. They say he's doing well and that his weight and size are great. Now he's thinking he's a pretty big deal after all the good things that were said about him. So here he is posing for the world to see how wonderful he is.



I'll close with this:

A bus driver is going up a one-way street the wrong way. Halfway down the street he gets spotted by a police officer, and waves hello to him. If the bus driver is going down a one-way street the wrong way, why does the police officer not pull him over and give him a ticket?

Little Musician

I got a digital camera a couple of days ago-finally! So you folks may have to be subjected to my photo taking experiments for a few days. You know that Lena has to be one of the first pictures I'd put on this blog and here she is singing and playing the piano at our house yesterday. You should have heard her--she's quite musical! I don't think I took this particular picture, but it is one of the first with my new camera and I learned how to transfer them to the computer and all that good stuff. Now I figured out how to work the flash which would have helped on this shot. I'm quite pleased with myself as I've never been anything remotely resembling a photographer. I'll be back tomorrow with another picture if I get a chance!

I'm hoping that maybe I'll be a more normal grandmother now since I can get prints of photos like these. Most of the time when people ask to see a picture of my granddaughter I only have one from long time ago. Now maybe I can do the usual grandparent thing and whip out a bunch of pictures when I run into folks who ask about grandkids.I do have this little digital keychain thing, but I want real pictures!

Come, ye Sinners

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity joined with pow'r:
He is able,
He is able,
He is able,
He is willing; doubt no more.

Come, ye needy, come and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Ev'ry grace that brings you nigh,
Without money,
Without money,
Without money,
Come to Jesus Christ and buy.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Bruised and broken by the fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all:
Not the righteous,
Not the righteous,
Not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.

Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him;
This he gives you,
This he gives you,
This he gives you;
'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Lo! th'incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of his blood;
Venture on him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude:
None but Jesus,
None but Jesus,
None but Jesus
Can do helpless sinners good.

~ Joseph Hart

Anniversary No. 37

In the months of May through July we find out the news of our last post, we each have another birthday, enjoy Mother's Day and Father's Day, see our oldest gain another year, and today, CELEBRATE ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY!

Today marks thirty-seven years of our journey together as husband and wife, and we are thankful to the Lord, who ordained marriage to be the wonderful institution that it is. I am thankful for my hubby and for God's mercies to us. We have much to celebrate!

I won't write our story out again, but if you'd like to read it you can read last year's anniversary post.

Granddaughter No.2!

My hubby and I, who have been blessed with two daughters, are expecting in October to have TWO granddaughters! Read about it at Bev's blog. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

At the Crack of Dawn

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Psalm 104:33

For a couple of weeks or so they've been waking me every day at about five in the morning. It's what is sometimes called "at the crack of dawn." One day it was 4:52 a.m. when I looked at the clock, and it was still pretty dark out, with just a hint of the promised daylight. When they awake me, it's to a magnificently beautiful chorus. For the most part, it's the robins who are taking the lead with hymns which are loud and crystal clear as they pour through my open window. Sometimes the cardinals join in to add variety and harmony; perhaps a sparrow or two, as well. The titmice, who are not around right now due to breeding in the deep woods, were taking the lead earlier in the spring and that, of course, was at a bit of a later hour. No matter which and who and when, though I may be lifted from a deep sleep, I usually smile in grateful acknowledgment of their concert offered freely to all who will listen. After all, there is little on this side of heaven that matches the splendor of this early serenade.

Undoubtedly, they are speaking to one another in a language that only they understand. But they're speaking to me as well, you know. During the course of the day I'll be hearing many news items that could bring discouragement and sadness. I'll be hearing what's going on in the political arena; I'll be getting reports from the courts in California and other places; I'll be receiving more updates about the latest disasters in this place and the other; I'll be weeping over sorrows of families who have lost precious ones or are encountering severe illnesses; and on and on. Sometimes, I'll be dealing with worries and concerns within my own family. I often take these burdens to bed with me at the end of the day.

So what is the message of these sweet melodies that rouse me to another day's journey on my pilgrimage? As I progress from one sunrise to the next they remind me that the One who created the singers and the hearer is still clothed with honor and majesty. They are saying that He who laid the foundations of the earth governs the course of all things pertaining to it and all of His creation. Yes, they point me to Psalm 104 where I'm reminded of these truths and more.

No matter what's going on around us, dear precious ones, let's listen to what these lowly creatures are proclaiming about their Creator and ours. He still reigns. He's still in control of His universe. He has not left us nor forsaken us. Let's hang in there and listen--every day at the crack of dawn.