The last posting ended after worship....

....so I have to finish the day. Following worship was Fellowship Sunday where we gathered to have birthday cake for Iva. She's 90 something, according to Pastor, and the cake was huge! I got in there a bit later due to all the hugging and such so I thought I missed the singing. Working my way to Iva's table, I sang "Happy Birthday" to her all by myself and received a round of applause. When I remarked that I missed the singing, the folks said I was the only one who sang to her! Glad I did it, then, and so was the birthday girl.

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I had to hustle folks back over to church to get the congregational meeting going, because I was wasting precious poolside time waiting....oh, that doesn't sound good, does it? Pastor also had a brief VBS meeting immediately after church so he had a busy, busy morning....and then the meeting on top of it. The meeting went well, not too much excitement, and we dismissed a little after one p.m. I drove like a mad woman to get home to the pool as my lady friends were going to be waiting for me, but I was the first one down there. I ordered my hot dog and sat down just in time for the thunder to start rolling. Rats!

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One of Timmy's classmates was in the pool area with his grandma, one who went to dinner with me the other night and thanked me for sharing my joy. I gave him a nice hug and marveled at how much he's grown (which happens to Justin all the time too!). He is quite polite, a really nice young man. His grandma and he were in the pool when it was thundering and she asked to tell her if I saw lightning. It wasn't long until I did see some so they got out right away and started packing up. My lady friends didn't make it before the rain came down. Another missed opportunity, but I did get my hot dog!

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Early this a.m. when getting ready for the day, I watched the very beginning of the movie "Wall Street", an oldie with Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, and Michael Douglas. I wish I better understood the whole trading process but guess I don't really need to, but that's what the movie is about. Making money, buying, selling, buying, selling, taking risks. One part early in the movie is the father/son team eating supper together at the dad's house, an airport worker, blue color Union guy played by the elder Sheen. He looks down on "Mr. Wall Street", who goes on and on about his fabulous career, living in Manhattan, car service, and, oh yeah, "Dad, can you spot me $300 for a week or so?" During this conversation and the loan which ensued, the dad asked the son to stay for dinner, reporting they were having spaghetti. "Dad, it's called 'pasta' now, no one calls it spaghetti anymore." Isn't that right on? Macaroni is no longer macaroni....now it's pasta!?!

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My sisters, here's something that will tickle your funny bone---at the cong. meeting today the President reported a man from the Synod will come down here to discuss our starting an elementary school in the future, to help us lay the groundwork. His name? Greg Schmill!!! I raised my hand and announced that I knew him, and if my sister, Jill, had married him, she'd be........No, I didn't do that, but was tempted!!!! I did tell the lady sitting next to me, though, that we still call Jill "Schmill" once in awhile for old times' sake. I thought he worked at the high school, or does he wear two hats? You guys up there know better about this than I do, I guess.

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Speaking of Jill--my friend, Jami, wants some ice cream shipped to her in TX...can you do that? Certainly she can find a Cold Stone Creamery in Amarillo! When I do go to a place like that, I order the Double Cream Vanilla with chocolate chips in it. For some reason, I like this flavor better than mint when it's fresh mixed. I have some ice cream in the freezer now for several weeks, I think I'll go have a dishful!

A view from my desk through the river room. The glass on the table is the gift from Dee, the painting on the wall is one I did.

Here's a shot looking northeast from the river room, showcasing my latterns and sun catchers.

This view is looking southeast from the river room, where you can see the dredging machinery, the palm trees, and more of the lanterns and sun catchers.

"The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away."

The printer is busily spitting out copies of The Palace Press, another deadline come and being met, I can't say "gone" just yet. Not until the printer has stopped and the letter delivered. That's another day.

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On the way to church this a.m., I pulled into Sonic to get a drink for at church. On the window was a notice posted saying after July 1, Sonic would no longer be having the Morning Drink discount, only the Happy Hour between 2 and 4 p.m. Rats! I guess when I go in the afternoons I'll have to buy two in order to make up for the one missed in the morning! Half price is half price, what can you say?

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As I headed on down Wells, I saw a couple cars coming to a dead stop in the middle of the road, and not at the light. The one is my lane moved along but I could see the driver and passenger of the pick-up getting out and looking around. Sure 'nuff, there was a tiny black kitten scooting around underneath the truck. It snuggled up to the back tire and when the driver mouthed to me, "Where is it?" as I carefully passed, I gestured toward the back tire. In my mirror I could see them on hands and knees, trying to grab the kitten. All that for a cat, and I can't give mine away!!! And a man at church today asked me if I wanted a couple cats.......

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Speaking of cats-----Friday I got busy cleaning the cat box, and I mean cleaning it, with soap, water and paper towels. Tell me again why it was so important the kids have pets??????? All those promises, all those assurances that someone other than me would be taking care of them......the last thing I needed or wanted was something else requiring attention in my life. At least I'm down to only one cat now, with a once spotless cat box!

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Back to church---I got there in time for the beginning of Bible study, as we continue our brief visits to a "Dark Days, Bright Son" series. The lesson this week was the prophet Nehemiah and his being led to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. One of the last verses we read regarded the dedication of the temple, and I loved it so much, I used it as the title of today's posting. We don't rejoice loud enough very often, do we?

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We did sing rather nicely in worship today. It was Favorite Hymn Sunday and was especially wonderful because Robbie played the entire service on the organ! He could emphasize the final stanzas and all that "fun" stuff possible on the organ. I about hugged the stuffings out of him after church, but had to stand in line to do it! Many were praising his playing and he accepted with thanks, but then directed it back to the Lord. The only hymn I couldn't sing out on was "Now the Light Has Gone Away", which just blows me away for a couple reasons, not the least of which was it served as a night time prayer for the boys. Stanza 3 knocks it out of the ballpark: "Let my near and dear ones be always near and dear to thee; oh, bring me and all I love to thy happy home above."