One more for the month

This is the last day of September and if I want to get one more in before the month ends, it had better be tonight. Besides, I know all of you are looking for some new entry.

We are battened down here facing the fierce winds on the prairie. Yesterday and today would be counted as hurricanes, nearly, if we had been on the coast. Denny wanted to get the pool closed up, but the wind would have ripped the tarp out of his hand and blown it into the next state, literally! So now it's just getting all the dead corn leaves blown into the water. One less/more job. Lovely sunny days, though. The temperature dropped about 15 degrees from 85 to 70 in a couple of hours. Now to go out it feels cold. (Den just said it's 60!) That's the weather in Lake Wobegone!

Great service this morning. Harold and I led the worship music. It's fun to sing parts with him. A Mighty Fortress was one of them. I've sung this for years, but the words are fresh and alive and have even more meaning each time I sing them. Each verse continues the thought of the verse before, like a message. The first verse speaks of the "ancient foe" who is armed with "cruel hate". Wow. That's pretty powerful. And it even goes on to say that there is no equal on earth. Gives you shivers, doesn't it? But then the next verse gives hope saying that we don't confide in our own strength, or we'd all lose, but we have the right man, the One God chose, Jesus Christ and then He is called, "Lord Sabaoth".(Lord of hosts). The third verse continues the theme of evil in the world going even as far as to conjecture that if the world was FILLED with devils we would not have to fear because His TRUTH would triumph THROUGH US!! We don't even fear the prince of darkness because we know his ending is sure through the Word. And because of the Word we have the Spirit and the gifts, and He is with us. Finally the theme of TRUTH returns. Because of that truth, God's abiding, everlasting truth, His kingdom lasts forever. We ultimately triumph because of the person and work of Jesus Christ. I did so feel like I worshiped when that song ended!

That's been the theme of my morning Bible reading through the book of Isaiah. I challenge you to go through chapters 40-55 or so and underline all the times God says that He is God and there is no other, and that He made the heavens and earth and everything in them. Just lets you know WHO'S in charge! What a wonderful reading. It will encourage any of the most depressed and discouraged. His triumph is NOT in some future eschatalogical kingdom, but NOW!
That's my Sunday thoughts for September 30th! Have a great week!

Marathon photos

This is the fastest and easiest way to let you all see the "official" photos of Dennis' Omaha marathon. Hopefully this link will work. If you want to order photos (hahahahahah) you can! He has his shirt on in a few of them! *smile*

Tired of hearing about the marathon? Well, what do you think it's like around here!!!

October 20th is the next one. I wrote "October 6th" to my cousin yesterday. What was I thinking?!!

My Adventurous Husband

And here's what Den ended up being. It's perfect. I'll have to highlight some of it, or you can figure out the perfect bits yourself!

You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!

by Mark Twain

With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black
and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less
it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time
understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your
adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Friends and celebrating early

Just one more quickie before I type up my lesson for tonight... Today my friend Sharon took me out for my birthday. She has been so kind ever since we met several years ago when I was her daughter's teacher. What an encourager! We went to a little bistro in Countryside Village and had simple, but most delicious food. Part of our visit was intended to catch up on her recent trip to Ireland. Ah, what lovely scenery, broad vistas, fog enshrouded mountains, burnt yellow painted houses along the village street and stately cathedrals, castles and monasteries. She also brought me a packet of delicious Oat Crumbles that I'm munching on while I sip tea. (Preparing to get that lesson typed....!)

I'm so thankful for ALL my friends! What a glimpse into the fellowship amongst the Trinity a good friend is. Sometimes I wonder if my friends are more important to me than God, but then I realize that my friends show me God. Our friends reflect different facets of our personality. Some I am just plain crazy with. Some help me to think through issues. Some keep me cheered up; some bring me back to earth. Some sharpen and stimulate and some sooth and encourage. Some of them do more than one of these things! Some go back to my childhood, some I've only met recently. I wish they were all nearby, but that's what heaven is for...one thing anyway! Thanks, Friends!

BTW, Den is planning to run the Sioux City marathon on October 20th! He figures if he's already done all this training, he may as well keep using it. Some people are gluttons for punishment... He is inspiring to others, though! Stephanie's dad told me today that Den has inspired her to get out there and run!

Little did I know what a jock I married 28 years ago!!!

An explanation

"Prone to Wander" just did this book quiz and posted it on her blog. There are only about 8 questions, but being a book lover, and a lover of the classics, I thought it would be fun. Does this sound like me? The post includes the link.

Try it...you'll like it!

Another view of my personality!

You're To Kill a Mockingbird!

by Harper Lee

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have
changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you've
also taken a significant amount of flack. But you've had the admirable guts to
persevere. There's a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you,
but you're pretty sure it's worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you
whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Yep, Marathon Man at 55

Yes, he did it, ran all 26.2 miles. The photo on the left is of the last few feet before the finish line. They came in along the Missouri River. The photo on the right was taken by our friends, the Happy Wanderers, along about mile 18 or so. See, he's even smiling. He said it wasn't bad until the last four miles or so. By then he was tired, it was HOT and the hot wind was blowing against him. He looked good coming in to the end, though. And he's feeling very pleased that he was able to run the whole thing. He did it in 5 hours. He averaged about 5.4 miles/hour, and kept a steady pace through the whole "race". He got water frequently and "ate" these gel packs filled with nutrients to keep him energized. (Chuck said, "speed"!) Chuck and Judy met him a couple of times along the course while Andrew and I were still in church and sprayed him and gave him water. Check out Chuck's blog for their view. Andrew went up the course a ways after we got there and saw Den as he came around the last curve. They were out of my view, but he ran along with him a little way and got Den psyched up for that last 500 yards or so. The marathon people gave him a device to attach to his shoe that kept track of his time. You can go to the marathon site and type in his name and number 271 for more info. I don't think they have the pictures uploaded yet. He has a gps gizmo he wears like a watch that tracks his route, his pace and number of calories burned. He loads the information into the computer, and it comes out on a graph. He also keeps track of every time he runs, and then compares them. It's a fun toy for him. What's next? You'll have to ask him. He talked to Charysse yesterday. They could speak each other's language. They may run together sometime. Well, at least in the same race. She runs the Chicago marathon on October 7th. She was his inspiration at our family reunion!

It was also his 55th birthday, so we had a celebration with 8 of our friends from church. It was a gorgeous evening, so we sat out by the pool, which we haven't closed yet, ate finger food, drank wine and had birthday cake and coffee. This picture was taken when he opened this really funny birthday card. Isn't his expression priceless?!

Early Birthday Present

Denny surprised me when I got home from church tonight with an early birthday present. He couldn't wait a week to give it to me; what a sweetie! He'd probably forget that he'd gotten it with all the excitement of the coming weekend! The CD has many favorites that I never tire of: Nessun Dorma, Con te partiro, Nella Fantasia, You Raise Me Up.... The link is to Amazon, so you can check it out for yourself. I'm glad to support this young man's debut into the music world. Thanks, World Mag, for introducing him to us!
Guess you can tell that we like all kinds of music!
And speaking of that...Den ordered his tickets for the Bob Dylan concert here at the Qwest Center, October 26th. He and Andrew are going. Will and Linnea, we feel your pain...!!!

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

I'm going to try to add something to this new post. I typed one and then figured out how to put the video right on to my blog so that you don't even have to click on the link. Learning something new all the time!

I just went to the Caithness.org website this afternoon and clicked on their link to this band. It was so good! They were playing in Wick this weekend or lately anyway. So after I got on the YouTube site, I started listening to all their other stuff posted on there. This piece is great. Put rock n roll in bagpipe music and you get some real dancin' music. Turn it up and dance around the room! I love the sound. Other clips may be better, if you have time to look/listen around!

If you prefer a more traditional yet upbeat sound, try this link that I first heard on the Caithness website.

Psalms, Isaiah and American politics

I have to admit, I get discouraged, disillusioned and sometimes even depressed when I spend any length of time reading current events. I want to stay informed and involved, so I keep up with what's going on. I form my opinions just like anyone else. Sometimes I know I get too emotional about it all. But that's when I am thankful for the hours that I've spent reading and studying Psalms and Isaiah. This morning as I read through the weekend comments of current candidates for American President I felt overwhelmed by the bickering, backstabbing and foolish ideas. Panic seized me. Then I remembered Psalm 2, here are verses 1-4:
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.

Humanity wants to "break their chains" and "throw off their fetters". These chains and fetters are God's law, and they refuse to obey it, nor do they even want to be bound by it. Those chains and fetters of marriage, purity, compassion, protection for the weak. We are consumed by the desire for our own personal peace and affluence. But God is still in control and laughs at their attempts to throw off His rule over them. Later the Psalmist writes that "he will dash them in pieces".

I use the One Year Bible for my devotions. Every year at this time the OT readings are in Isaiah. And they are most encouraging when reading the news and thinking about current leaders and those who want to be the leaders. God raises up those who are His plan for our country and the world. None of it is pure chance. Isaiah 25, the reading for today says, "for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap..." In chapter 22 Isaiah tells the people that they laid all the plans for defending the city, put everything in place, YET "you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago." Our current election results are not up for grabs. We plan and do our part, but as Isaiah said, God planned the results long ago. How reassuring that is! Nothing is out of control. Not George Bush, nor Putin, nor the Iranian guy whose name I can't spell, not anyone. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."(Prov. 21:1)

So if you're feeling overwhelmed, like me, at all that's going on in our world, take heart, God is on His throne. He has his plans and He directs hearts, even the hearts of Bush, Putin, and A...!

Porridge weather

It's 10:15 and not even 50 this morning. It was 39 when we woke up. Poor Den was pacing the floor knowing that he had to get out and do his run in that freezing cold. But I stayed in the house and enjoyed my Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oatmeal.
This is especially delicious because the house is 63 degrees and I don't want to turn on the heat! (BTW, the first mouse of the season just showed up! argh!)

When we first came back to America from Scotland in 1989, I brought oatmeal back with me. Then we visited in 1990, and I did the same. Every visit I'd bring it back. Then I found Bob's Red Mill when I was in Wild Oats. It's exactly like what we got in Scotland! It was expensive there, so I ordered a 20 pound bag online. When that was finished, I found it in Baker's grocery store. It isn't all that cheap, but I get a little at a time. We brown it and eat it like dressing with roast chicken. Most delicious. I have yet to make oatcakes, which I LOVE!

So grab a bag of porridge oats, make yourself a bowl of porridge and a pot of tea and welcome autumn!

Critters in my Garden

While watering and pulling weeds this morning, I came across this fine fellow! What a lovely praying mantis. Made me wish I had some little one around here that I could show him to. I got right down there and got his face, too. For some reason, not the fault of the photographer I'm sure, I didn't get him all focused in this shot. While I was admiring his beauty, another beauty slithered away through the bee balm, a garter snake. I saw him, or another like him, a couple of weeks ago in that front garden. He was about the size of a pencil then, now he's about the size of my middle finger. Must be getting some good things to eat. Hope it's the grasshoppers! They're terrible in there! One more shot of the mantis---enjoy!

My friend Elizabeth

Today is her birthday. She has been our/my friend for over 20 years now, all the way back to the year we moved to Scotland. She is one of those people that I don't ever remember being a stranger to or with. Her home was a warm, friendly, comfortable farmhouse in which we spent hours and yes, days. Hospitality is her first, middle and last name. She is one of the most loving and humble people I know, and I am so glad that we got to know her! She has been an encourager to me as I raised little boys who were not always the most well-behaved. When my boys were really small, Den would stay home with them for evening church service, and I would go. Then after church Elizabeth and I would go to our friend Janet's and have tea and biscuits. Our discussions were broad. They were two very knowledgeable women. I got to be a woman and a thinker as well as a young mother.
We don't correspond all that often, but when we do we just pick up where we left off. And conversation is just as good as ever. I look forward to the day when we will all be together, Elizabeth and all those great Scottish friends.

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

Meditation on the Sunday sermon

Probably most of us are thinking of something as we listen to the Sunday morning sermon. Some may think of the week ahead, some the week past, some of our cares, but hopefully, in spite of all this thinking we think something of the morning message. I'll admit, my mind does wander, but I do think about what the minister is saying, too. Today's message was on Psalm 1. A psalm our mother taught us, and one I taught my children, so it's very familiar--in more than one version, as well as the Scottish metrical psalms.

A few responses/reactions went through my mind today. First of all, how easy it is for us and our children to listen to (walk in) the counsel of the ungodly. I mean the media, news and otherwise, are constantly bombarding us, unless we're living some kind of hermit existence. We hear their point of view all the time, so it's nearly impossible NOT to listen. So what does it mean? And then of course there's the progression. Once we start listening, we stand there, and then we get comfortable. Am I comfortable (Tolerance) with the viewpoint of those around me without the light of Christ? Does the conservative or liberal viewpoint make me comfortable? Can I support those whose viewpoint blatantly goes against what the Scripture teaches? Do I end up in the scoffer's seat scoffing at other believers?

The next verse led me to other thoughts. "His delight is in the law of the Lord". So many times since I was a child I've heard that this meant something about being really happy reading the Bible. I should be more ready to read my Bible than to do anything else. And of course it gets compared to sports, books, etc. But that doesn't really make sense to me. What kind of person just sits around reading his Bible? That's not what life is about. Life is about reading it and LIVING it. And that's where this verse fits in with the verses in the beginning. That "law of the Lord" where my delight is, is my lens, the window through which I see/hear everything around me. I am happy to know what pleases God because this will keep me from ending up as a scoffer. And I know my heart, I want to scoff, but this also shows me (thanks to that law of God) that my heart is proud, and I need to listen. Listen to the law of the Lord, not to the cacophony of voices around me.

The beginning and the end of the Psalm are positive and give me the reason for and result of delight. "blessed"-real happiness and contentment, and God's presence with me always. We all want to be truly happy. Then let the perfect law of the Lord permeate everything we do, whether it's watching football, reading Harry Potter or cleaning my house. All the while thanking God and praying without ceasing. Boy, THAT will make me happy!

Over the River and through the Woods

My title started out "Over the Riviera...." whoops, I didn't go THAT far, although that's not to say I didn't WISH to go that far!

Anyway, I'm back to real life, and it's good. The weather is cooler, friends are good, the house is tidy and I SHOULD be well rested. And I am. So a bit about the trip...Mom and I left on Tuesday and decided to stay off freeways and take "blue highways", secondary roads through Iowa and Minnesota. It was a VERY LOVELY trip! We left at six, an hour before sunrise, then watched the sun break the clear horizon over Iowa. We kept a little notebook (thanks for leaving it in the car Willy) of how long it took us to get places, trains we saw and other attractions. Lake Okoboji is beautiful on either side of Hwy 71 in northern Iowa. Another highlight was our hour long visit in New Ulm, Minnesota, a German settlement and the home of children's author Wanda Gag (remember Millions of Cats?) We found a little place to have lunch and walked a few blocks around the town. These are a couple of places that Den and I will have to return to some weekend...

We drank a lot of coffee, had good meals, breathed fresh woodsy air and read books. It was a very relaxing couple of days. See the Flickr for photos of various and sundry relatives. Every day was warm, well, hot, until the morning I left. I drove straight home via the freeway and Minneapolis this time using the route through "the cities" that Grace gave me. It was perfect! And I sped through.

The Midwest is really lovely at this time of the year!