A good reminder

If you haven't been to Nathan's blog lately, go there today and read his list that he wrote in the middle of the night. It's dated Monday, January 28. It's good reading for the soul.

A wonderful song

Last Thursday night before I went to Orlando, I went down to Fort Myers to hear the Gaithers concert. It had been years since I had seen them live. My husband and I used to go regularly years ago.

One of the last songs that they sang was this one. No commentary from me is needed.

Computer woes

I was going to upload photos from the fair last night, but when I plugged my cord into the port, nothing happened. I have a laptop that I bought in 2002, and one of the USB ports quit working a while ago. My friend, the computer repairman, told me that probably the solder had broken on the motherboard. Oh dear. Then he told me that I could go get a hub to plug several in. I have already done that because a while ago the disc drive quite working, so I have an external disk drive.

Along with that I had bought an external hard drive to hold all the photos that I've uploaded, and then there's the scanner, the printer, the mouse, and ....

When I unplugged the second port and plugged the camera cord in, nothing. Boo-hoo! I wasn't planning to get another computer at this point, but I may have to do just that. At least if I do, I'll be up-to-date for a little while.

So I'll be back sometime. I'm to a weekend in Orlando for a regional workshop with Sweet Adelines. Have a good weekend.

Ella in the snow!

I just received these photos from my daughter-in-law. They must be hot off the press since I had read that they were having their first real snow today.

When I was there in December, there were a few flakes that fell, but they didn't stay. This looks like a nice covering.

As far as Florida goes, it's nasty here today. It's the opening day of our county fair. My mother always said that you could tell when it was time for the fair to start...it would either be raining or be freezing cold. Today it chose to rain.

What's Up?

Not much. When I read the goings on in others' lives, mine seems quite ordinary, but I think that is o.k. Along with many others I check out the blog about Nate, Tricia, and Gwyneth several times during the day to see what is developing at Duke. My heart is moved each time I go there and read the updates and the comments of many all around the world who have read about this family and are praying for them.

Another blog that I faithfully check out is A Mountain Too High. This dear lady writes about her daily living with her husband who has Alzheimer's. It too is a very moving blog to read. She is able to write so poignantly about their life now. She has those who comment who have lived a similar experience and they are able to encourage her in her daily walk. I read and comment and yet I've never experienced that.

Our Sweet Adeline's chorus is getting ready to do our annual show February 2. We're practicing twice a week and I'm singing in a couple of small groups, so we are having extra rehearsals as well, so I'm singing my way through the week. I love it!

On Tuesday nights we rehearse until around 10 and then we go out for a bite. In our town it's hard to find places that are open late. We used to go to Appleb*es, but the evening that we went there was karaoke, and it was always so loud that we couldn't hear each other talk.

One evening after a movie a group of us went to a local sports bar called "Eat Drink and Be Che*ry." We enjoyed our food and so we asked them their hours, mentioning to them that we were looking for a place to get something to eat and drink after rehearsal. They said that they'd be glad to have us there, and so we began going there each Tuesday evening.

Last night there were about twelve of us who went. When we got there, we were about the only ones there. We started talking to the server who always waits on us. He knows us all by name, what we like to drink, and usually what we want to eat unless we throw him a curve.

In talking to him, he told us that he's getting his AA degree at the local community college and is hoping to go into some sort of sports business promotion. I asked him what he does besides serving there, and he said that he works at the local A. M. radio station and on Wednesdays they did a sports broadcast from the restaurant.

So today at 1 I tuned in and, sure enough, Jay mentioned the Sweet Adelines. He announced our show coming up and said that he planned to come. What a neat young man.

Before we left last night, the manager asked us to sing a couple of songs. We sang "Heartaches" and "Kokomo," and then he said, "Ladies, whenever I get married, I want you to sing at my wedding." How's that!

It doesn't take much to make a bunch of old ladies smile.

Thankful

Every time I look at this little girl, I thank God for the measure of health she has been given so far in her young life even with the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Ella has been our joy and delight, and we pray that she will have many more years of health and that despite the naysayers that a cure will be found for this genetic disorder.

Right now at Duke University Hospital, there is a young woman fighting for her life along with her newborn daughter. Tricia, who has CF, had been preparing for a double lung transplant when it was discovered she was pregnant. This week because of her weakened condition, her baby was born by C-section at 24 weeks. Gwyneth Rose is doing remarkably well despite her premature state. Tricia is still sedated and has not awakened yet.

People around the world are praying for this family. Visit Tricia's husband's blog, see this tiny infant, and join in prayers for this family.

The Tongue Always Helps

Here She Comes!

Don't you love the tongue! I remember always having my tongue stuck out like that when I was little and trying my best to accomplish something. Ella's mom said that her legs were too short to reach the pedals, but she was trying her best. It looks like fun!

There she goes.

You Have to Love This One

"Cannibal Team"

Five cannibals get appointed as engineers in a high-tech company. During the welcoming ceremony, the boss says, "You're all part of our team now. You can earn good money here, and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat. So don't trouble any of the other employees."

The cannibals promised not to trouble the other employees.

Four weeks later, the boss returns and says, "You're all working very hard, and I'm very satisfied with all of you; however, one of our janitors has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened to him?"

The cannibals disavow all knowledge of the missing janitor. After the boss has left, the leader of the cannibals says to the others, "Which of you idiots ate the janitor?"

A hand raises hesitantly, to which the leader of the cannibals says, "You fool! For four weeks we've been eating Team Leaders and Project Managers so no one would notice anything, and you have to go and eat the janitor!"

from Pastor Tim's Cybersalt

Freeze Warnings

It's coming...cold weather, that is. Predictions are for the coldest weather that we've seen here in our area of Florida in the last four years. We should have a hard freeze here. Up further north, temperatures in the teens are being forecast. The strawberry farmers will be busy tonight as well as the other farmers in the area, working to save their crops.

On the way to the hospital the morning that my daughter was born in January 1977, it was 26 degrees. That was cold! School was closed for a couple of days that year because they could not heat the buildings adequately, and there were rolling blackouts to assure everyone of having heat and lights during most of the day and night. But that year it was cold for a long time.

I have house guests coming on Friday from Minnesota. By that time the temperatures should be back up in the 70's.

Here is a thought for the new year from Steve Goodier.

No Future in the Past

The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether anything was troubling him. "Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient. "You see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it's actually worse than that. I can never remember where I park my car, where I'm going,or what it is I'm going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your help. What can I do? "The doctor mused for a moment, then answered kindly, "Pay me in advance."

Actually, forgetfulness isn't all bad...especially when we decide to forget all that pain from the past that threatens to ruin the present. Like one song says, "There ain't no future in the past."

The past is to be remembered -- how else will we learn from it and keep from repeating it? But why would I want to remember every time I felt hurt because of my spouse, my children, my friends, my boss or anybody else? Why would I want to fill my mind with a detailed catalogue of past pain? Better to remember the times they brought me joy or love or feelings of warmth. Unfortunately, even those wonderful and magical moments too easily fade away.

A friend of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross,asked her about a particular traumatic event in her life. Miss Barton seemed perplexed. "Can't you remember?" the friend prodded. Clara Barton replied, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

Dwell on the past -- but not the negative past, not the pain of the past nor the sadness. Dwell on the good. Be consumed by past joys and obsessed with gratitude. Dwell upon the moments that uplifted you, the times you laughed and the memories of love shown to you by friends and family. Not everything should be remembered, and those who live well know what to forget and what to cherish. Like the song says, "There ain't no future in the past." But there IS joy there. And love.And kindness...if we choose to remember.-- Steve Goodier