You just never know.......

The older I get the more amazed I am at how life can change and does change so quickly. Our little Harley knows what I mean, I'm sure. Just think about his life for a minute. He was born January 21, 2002, in a kennel with lots of brothers and sisters and cousins all playing and having a good life. In March of that year he came home with us and started the slow process of learning to live the life of cherished, family pet! He was the adored pet for a whole year. Then, an older cousin came to live with us as well and that was not exactly to Harley's liking. He always liked getting all the attention and sleeping in bed with his people all by himself. As time went on he adjusted and even came to love Stonewall as a brother! They became fast friends and had a wonderful life. Then something happened about two weeks ago.













Something, well evil, cometh! Harley and Stoney worked together like a well rehearsed team to route the stranger on her way with good riddance! But - it was no use; she wasn't budging! Finally, despite all our boys efforts, the battle was lost and the worst of all endings took place. The cat moved INSIDE! Never in all our life have we even had a cat, much less a cat in the house! Stoney and Harley continue to fight on to save their happy home, but, sadly the cat takes no heed to their protest. In fact, it seems she has actually stolen the heart of the king himself and displaced Harley entirely as the number one pet. Just look at how Pop watched the race tonight. There is some hope, though. Even though the cat is in the house and has taken her stance on the shoulder of the man who has all his life been allergic to cats........ there is still room for Harley and Stonewall. Can you see them? Harley is on Pop's left and Stoney is on his right, just like every night --except of course, for the cat on his shoulder. In life you just never know what adjustment you will be required to make!! The Bible says the lion and the lamb will lie down together, but I'm here to tell you that our household is witnessing a very chilling experiment with Harley and Star the cat! It remains to be see if they will ever lie down together in peace. Surely the boys will come to understand that this little kitty is no competition for them at all but according to the vet she only weighed 2.5 pounds at four months old so she needs a home and we can give her one. You know, Stonewall has even developed a taste for cat food!!! That should be no surprise; look at him!! He has a taste for all food. I'll keep you posted on how this one goes. Till later - God bess! Sharon

Evening Under the Stars

Our church choir sponsors a fund raising event each February called Evening Under the Stars. It's held in the family life center and a locate dance band plays wonderful swing band musci. All the more mature folks love to dance to this band and the young ones enjoy themsleves as well. This year it was held on Valentine's Day. Charlie and I went along with Joy and her boyfriend Joe. David and Cassie along with my brother made a table full for our family. Lots of fun so I'm sharing a couple of pictures.

Here's Cassie dancing with Pop. He had a hard time keeping up with her. She really has the energy!!

Here's Joy and her fella, Joe, waiting for the band to strike up a tune.

Look at Doll Baby go!!! Is she not just the cutest little Valentine ever??? She's actually dancing here. She would twirl around and around and squeal with delight as she danced! What fun to watch.

I hope everyone had a very special and wonderful Valentine's Day. Till Later - Sharon

Some years ago I read a list of church bulletin "bloopers". Haven't seen such a list in a long time but recently I received the following list of church bloopers as an email. I really enjoyed this list and thought you might as well.


Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you

Don't let worry kill you off - le t the Church help,

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I Will Not Pass This Way Again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation,

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: 'Break Forth Into Joy.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - Prayer and medication to follow

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours'

The author of this list seems to credit the bloopers to the typewriter but I've seen this sort of thing happen in the age of computers as well. Hope you got a chuckle as I did. Have a wonderful Valentine's weekend. ♥Sharon♥

Join me in prayer, please.

Last night before I went to bed, I did a little blog surfing and found a site that really grabbed my heart. The name of the blog is "The Macs". You can find it on my sidebar. I spent an hour or so reading old blogs from as far back as Christmas. I'll not share with you all I read but just let me say that this is a lovely young Christian family with a beautiful young daughter named Cora who looked to be about eight or nine months old. Earlier in January, Cora was diagnosed with cancer and there are daily postings of Cora's progress and prayer requests. I went to bed last night with this child and her parents on my mind and I prayed as fervently as I can that God would bring her healing - whatever kind of healing He chose. First thing this morning I came down to check on Cora and learned that Cora is now with Jesus. You can not believe how deeply I was affected by this child's death - and I really don't understand it myself. I have cried throughout the day for this precious little girl. The pictures of Cora seemed to speak to me and her eyes told her story. There is an old hymn I had never heard until about two weeks before my mother died called Safe In The Arms Of Jesus. I love that old hymn. Cora is safe in the arms of Jesus but her family needs the prayers of us all to hold them and comfort them as they learn to live without Cora. I hope you will visit Cora's mother's blog; the link is on my sidebar. More importantly, I hope you will pray with the many others who are praying for this family. It is all that can be done but there is no more powerful tool in the Christian's arsenal than prayer. And, let's all hug our children and grandchildren and each other --- often. Till later - God bless.
Sharon

Motorhome and Rusty's birthday

It was an absolutely beautiful, sunny, and warm today!! Just in time to save what's left of my sanity. We spent the day outside soaking up the fresh air and a little sunshine. Today also happened to be my youngest child, Rusty's, birthday. I can hardly believe he is 33 years old today. And I'm only 39 myself!!LOL! Happy Birthday, Rusty!!

One thing I did today was take some pictures of the inside of our motorhome. I've been waiting to add a few homey touches before taking pictures, but that just ain't happening so I decided just to give you pictures of it as is. Maybe I'll spruce it up as we use it.

This is the view from the front all the way to the back. As you can see there are mirror walls everywhere, which is one thing I don't like about it! Charlie, of course, loves them and doesn't want me to cover them with anything. I'd do something with them but I don't know what. The light is being refected off the closet door in the bedroom, which is also covered with mirrors. The dinning table pulls out and there are two more chairs that can be used around the table. And as you can see on the left side, the backspash is..... you guessed it! Mirror! I bought some beautiful rub-on roosters to put on the tile in the kitchen area but I thought Charlie was going to faint when I told him my plan, so that's not an option either.

The bed is king sized which is unusual. Most MHs have queen size bed but ours was a special order MH and the original owner wanted a king sized bed. I'm glad they did. We haven't used it yet but it promises to be comfortable from what I can tell by just lying down on it. I bought the bed spread and pillows to try and give the room a little more color but it really didn't! The spread and pillows that come on the bed were very modern in style and I just didn't like them. Just got to get some color in this MH some where. More pillows, throws, and area rugs I think.

This is the opposite side of the bedroom from the previous picture. We have a sink and medicine cabinet in the bedroom which I like. He can shave in the bathroom (what little shaving he does) and I'll have this spot to put on my make-up. We'll have just a little larger lamp under the TV and this one will probably go in the bathroom. You can't see it but it is an elephant. I may use it by my side of the bed. I really like lamps in a MH. Makes it look/feel like home.

As you can see, Stonewall has found a spot he likes. And again, I've got to get some color in the living area. Too bland for me. More pillows and throws. Poor Stoney doesn't like this as much as he did the fifth wheel. The steps into the MH are too steep for him to come up so we carry him in and out. He is afraid of the MH but I'm sure he will get more comfortable with it as time goes by.
We have a washer/dryer - also in the bedroom.
A four door refrigerator with an ice maker. Don't know how that is going to work out. I don't usually drink the water and won't use the ice either. Maybe I'll get over that.
I really do like this little pull-out storage bin. Wish I had one in my home kitchen! There is central vacuum, a convection/microwave oven and NO real oven. That space is storage. I really like that,too. In the 10 years we had the fifth wheel I only used the oven one time. The rest of the time it was used for storage. No oven means more storage for me. And there you have it. Still in the early stages for us but we are looking forward to years of good times in this little baby. No name yet for the MH; nothing other than "the money pit". And believe you me, it is a money pit. Oh, well. You can't take it with you. I just want to come out even like my Daddy did. When he died his family had everything they needed, most of what they wanted and he didn't owe anyone a dime. Till next time - God bless.

Don't know about you guys but I've had just about all the cold, windy, gloomy, dark days I can stand for one winter. Where is spring!!? I need sunshine and warm weather and time to sit on the porch and..... You know that reminds me, we have all but lost the art of sitting on the porch in our hurry-up world. We'd all be better off if we slowed, took some time to just sit and visit "a spell" as my folks would say. Well, since we can't do that, I thought I'd share some of my new Maxine's with you. You know I love Maxine so let's see what she has for us tonight.

Here is Maxine's thinking about mistakes:

I share Maxine's feelings about dishwashers but DH thinks you just must wash everything before you put it in the dishwasher! So, he does.

Though I don't share Maxine's feelings about the super bowl, I do love the way she expresses herself so clearly.

And if this depressing winter weather doesn't end soon, my blood type is going to turn negative!!!

Maxine always makes me chuckle and I hope she helped brighten your cold winter evening, too. Till next time - God bless.

Sharon