Hello to you – how are you? I’m just back from meeting with our church’s prayer team. I asked the members to pray for me. I am having problems with my new medication which causes anxiety. I tried to get in touch with my doctors nurse yesterday but was unsuccessful! I was able to get an appointment scheduled earlier which is good.
My morning boy Fruit tree This looks like a miniature peach My neighbors bush is still blooming these lovely flowers
I’m grateful for our prayer team. Going each Thursday gives me a purpose. I walk there and walk home. Going gives me a reason to pray and connect with Jesus with other followers. There is such a beautiful fellowship. We are up to four members now! Today we had a lot to pray for to include several people that have been missing due to health related issues. Our group leader has a call list and checks on many of the people. Today was our youngest members Briana’s 29th birthday!
1 John 1:7New International Version
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a]sin.
Hello to you – how are you? I’m sitting out on my porch with Link right now. It’s nice and cool out. I’ve been waking up earlier the past couple mornings. I am no longer taking the olanzapine (zyprexa) and taking abilify instead. I am paying close attention to how I feel – being vigilant about mania. I have been sleeping so that’s good. When I have had mania in the past sleep was an issue.
Good morning! It’s another day! Now What?
So yesterday I wrote a lot about what we found out about aliens and through the day I watched several posts on Tik Tok to see what other peoples reactions were. A lot of them were the same. Clips of the highlights and this common thread – now what?! I still have to go to work, pay off student loans, inflation is through the roof for everything we need to live and our government wants us to think about aliens! How does this news change anything for the average American? Other posters brought up that our finding this out probably means there is bad news coming. For Christians we are seeing the end times playing out. The shit is hitting the fan all over the world environmentally – the oceans are hotter than ever before. What I saw in the responses yesterday is if it doesn’t affect their immediate life they don’t really care. Ironically all this IS affecting their immediate life. What isn’t being acknowledged is perhaps having help from extraterrestrials would affect their immediate life if we really reached out and were open minded. I believe they might have answers to help solve our day to day lives – especially the environment. It can’t be just about the military and national security that they are making themselves more and more visible.
I can remember watching movies like Close Encounters and the wonder I felt if meeting them would go that way – seeking to communicate peacefully. Then there are movies in recent times about scary alien encounters like Aliens, Thing, Predator movies and Prometheus where the first encounters are terrifying. Remember the television series V where the aliens wanted to eat us?! War of the Worlds where aliens wanted to take over the planet?! I personally want to see Gene Roddenberry Star Trek kind of world – a world where we evolve past what struggles we face today and have a world of peace. A world where we have peace treaties with species from other worlds.
Anyhew – it’s baby steps for now. It’s disappointing that the direction being taken is what’s happening is a threat and not an opportunity.
Luke 21:25 NIV
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Hello to you. How are you? Just back from church and some errands. I locked myself out last night and didn’t have a spare key. Thank God my Aunt had a spare! I have mentioned this before but I’ll say it again – her and my Uncle John are my earth angels. When I need help or just some company they are there. We had a nice meal together yesterday with my cousin Tony. I’m so grateful for my family here. They are such a great support system.
“Are you getting up?!”This treat has been with me most of my life. I used to eat them for lunch at school
My comfort food is peanut butter and chocolate. I enjoy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Little Debbie’s Nutty Bars. Neither of these are low calorie so they have to be eaten in moderation! When I was a teenager I was hungry all the time and would eat semi-sweet chocolate chips in peanut butter as a snack.
Todays psalm at church is a well known favorite. It was nice to have Pastor Jayson Boyd and his wife Becky back today:
Psalm 23New International Version
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?
Hello there! How are you? Todays prompt is s tough one as I don’t have one specific favorite game. I have played a couple video games that kept my attention for long periods of time like FFXI, Diablo 2, FFXIV, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, The Sims and Rift. Mostly MMORPGs. As far as board game favorites I would have to say Scrabble and Monopoly.
The reason I have enjoyed video games like I mentioned is it’s fun to be a powerful character in an alternate universe. It was a way to socialize with people all over the world. It was a way for me to not feel lonely and have something to do.
One of my favorite avatars was Prinzessa. She got to be a high level Paladin player and I really invested a lot of time into her. She had a story! People on the server knew me. It was through her that I met and later married my second husband. I was in a party in a place called Valkrum Dunes and he got invited to the party and things went from there. I was a white mage ( healer) and he was a black mage ( damage dealer). I can remember us crying when we deleted Prinzessa and Efess – can’t remember exactly why we did that but just remember it being an emotional thing for both of us. It was like a part of us died! In FFXI it was a challenge to get everything you got and so you really got invested emotionally in your characters (avatars) unlike World of Warcraft where we were always making new characters.
Since moving to Idaho I haven’t really played any video games – played a little Rift which is a game like World of Warcraft. I just can’t sit and focus for extended periods of time like I used to.
Ephesians 5:15-17English Standard Version
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Hello to you. How’s your week been? It’s Friday morning as I write to you and already hot – 89 degrees! I went and got groceries at Ridleys here in town after I got up. Their ice cream section was completely empty! Their freezer must be still broken. I didn’t need to buy ice cream anyways lol! Just tastes good when it’s hot.
Today my thoughts turn to life in terms of quality versus quantity – the number of days we live versus how we live the number of days we are given to live. I feel so blessed to have made it to 55 years old! It hasn’t always been easy to get to this point but despite all the things I’ve been through I’m grateful for my life and the bumps in the road along the way. It’s like my body with its knicks and dents – all the imperfections showing the character of the life I’ve lived. Each flaw and scar tells a story about me and my journey. It’s important to live in a space of gratitude for the time we are given however long or short that time may be.
A little yellow rose – made me think of my mom and dad. My writing buddy – he’s so good at posing for pictures!
Our animals that we share our life with teach us these lessons. For every day we live is a week in their time. No day is wasted. I can be gone for just a few minutes and when I come back Link expresses his joy and gratitude at my return. Each morning there is a wagging tail to show how glad he is to wake up next to me. Dogs, cats and birds are the epitome of making each day count!
Romans 8:18New International Version
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Hello to you. It’s a smoky hot day already. I walked over to our prayer meeting at Grace House and back – got my 10 minutes plus in for today. I’ll probably still go later this evening. I spoke with a recreation therapist yesterday from the VA and we established a goal of walking at least 10 minutes each day.
As for todays prompt I have had the honor of sharing my life with both species. I would say of the two, cats are the lowest maintenance but I love each equally. There are pros and cons to sharing life with each of them. Dogs can’t be left alone for more than a day whereas cats can. I don’t miss cleaning up cat litter but I still have to pick up dog poop! It’s more convenient to just scoop it out of one place. Both species can be very affectionate and love to play. May, my Russian Blue, loved to play ball with me. I would toss a small fuzz ball to her and she would hit it with her paws like a bat. So cute! Link loves to cuddle and sometimes we play with his toys. He hides his favorite fur babies and challenges me to find them. Sometimes he acts like a Dat – a little bit dog and a little bit cat. Amber and May were his first cat family. So as you can see, I can’t settle on whether I favor dogs or cats- they are pretty much even in my books!
New flower I saw on the walk last night These flowers make me think of an exotic location like Hawaii or something
Proverbs 3:3-13New International Version
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.[b]
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,
Hello to you. How is your week thus far! My week is going ok. I’m sitting on the front porch with Link as I write to you. Its still pretty nice out. I wish it would rain so my car would get rinsed off! Its pretty dirty! I know as soon as I wash it pollen and dust will cover it again.
Todays prompt makes me think of when I was being creative and crafting. When I made jewelry, did drawing in chalks on the back porch and also when I used to be play video games. When I get in the flow, the zone where I’m focused on something so completely I am not operating in time and a place. When I’m doing something I love to do it’s such a good feeling. It’s been a couple years since I had this feeling. I can remember when I used to draw portraits of people I would sit for hours and be totally focused but that was mainly when I was younger.
Psalm 145:9New International Version
9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
A smile from Link One of my neighbors trees – looks like green apples I saw this bloom last night but didn’t have my phone so went back for it this morning!
Hello to you. I’m just back from Grace House where we have a prayer meeting each Thursday at 9:30 am. Today it was Lois, Brie and me. We are hoping that may be this fall our group will grow some. I walked over and back. My lower back wasn’t happy but the prayers helped. I have been having some vertigo/swaying spells the past couple of days. I hope this isn’t a side effect of the new medication I’m on! We prayed for my Aunt and Dad too. Just found out my Aunt is having shoulder surgery later this month.
So bedtime and getting up are something I’ve been having to work on. I try to start going to bed at 9 pm and I usually wake up around 8-9 am. It takes me a long time to fall asleep and I don’t like getting out of bed right away. I think the reason I have trouble falling asleep has to do with being on screens before bed time. Last night I didn’t have anything on after lights out and I don’t remember falling asleep! Just takes good practice and consistency I think.
Today was good because I needed to be up early to go to the prayer meeting. It’s good to have a reason to get up and have something to look forward to.
Saw this on the way home yesterday Saw this on walk this morning Such tiny little flowers ! This looks like a perfect flower for hummingbirds For some reason he wanted on my lap!
Psalm 4:8New International Version
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Happy Independence Day! I’m looking forward to seeing family today and getting a bike. My cousin had a friend give him a bike that could go to a disabled vet which so happened to be me! We are getting together at my Aunt and Uncles house this afternoon. I am not looking forward to the evening – lots of people fire off fireworks around here and it sounds like a war zone! Thankfully Link doesn’t seem to be bothered by them.
Todays prompt kind of makes me think of Jesus’s message about not worrying or having anxiety about tomorrow:
Matthew 6:34New International Version
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I used to be a worrier and very anxious about things I had no control over. I still on occasion have anxiety. It does nothing for me! There are things to plan for and look forward to but all I really have control over is my today – the moment I am in. Who knows but God what is going to happen next! Something Kyle my ex used to say to me when I was worrying about something is “what are you going to do about it? If your not able to do anything quit worrying as it does no good.” He was usually right! I can remember one time our front yard was flooding and I was worrying and I had to focus on what I wanted to happen and not on the flooding. Everything was fine – we were watching Twilight Zone and the episode was about an Angel and that comforted me.
In times of crisis I have had to train my mind to focus on what I want to happen not what I don’t. What monster do you want to feed kind of thing. Prayer also helps with focusing on what I want to happen in my present and future. It takes a lot of practice for me not to be a worry wart!
I thought Link looked beautiful in the afternoon light
Hello to you. How are you doing today? It’s already 81 degrees here today. I didn’t take my phone on the walk last night so no walk pictures. Everything is drying out or there are weeds. One of my neighbors yards is almost completely overrun with weeds. They are waist high! I don’t know if the city has a code enforcement to tell them to cut their yard.
Link is so good at posing for pictures. He is a teacher in my life – especially patience and unconditional love
Todays prompt reminds me of a special teacher I had when attending grade school. The teacher in grade school was Mrs. Maxwell. She encouraged me to write and even gave me a certificate saying I was the most likely to be an author some day. She genuinely cared about me on a personal level as well. She could see how difficult a classroom setting was for me and tried to help. I can remember one day she helped me work through a crisis. I thought my dog Pita had eaten a rabbits foot and was going to die. Mrs. Maxwell reassured me the whole day that Pita would be alright. Thankfully she was. I don’t remember finding the rabbits foot!
I don’t think teachers are compensated nearly enough for what they do for our children!
Teachers are not limited to human beings. All my animals I have shared my life with have taught me patience and non-verbal communication. My dogs and cats taught me about nonverbal communication and patience. I have learned things from insects and other non- humans. I’ll never forget what a couple different species of wasps taught me. One dragged the body of a spider in right in front of me. It was like it was saying “see what I can do?!” The spider was two to three sizes bigger than the wasp. Another discharged its stinger as I was looking at it – like someone putting down their weapon. Another got trapped in the house and I caught it and let it outside where its fellows were waiting like they knew what I would do! The other insect I learned from was flies. I put tuna on a plate and they would go to the tuna and I could get them outside. Most of the behavior that annoys about flies is stuff they do while freaking out at being where they don’t belong- they freak out just like we would if we were trapped somewhere we don’t belong. People forget that insects have been here longer than we have – not just stupid insects! I did a video about the flies once – if I could make peace with a fly why can’t we make peace with each other? I think our brains and thoughts make things so complicated. I haven’t been able to make peace with ants like when they invaded the house- just too many!
These days, as an adult, my teachers are all around me. Like I remember my Dad telling me once “ You are never out of school.” Its important to remain teachable and not get set in your ways. This is difficult for me as I don’t like change very much but nature continues to teach me that change is a part of life.
To be 