Some perfect Scripture to start the day.............

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Hebrews 12: 22-24

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You will never guess what I am listening to on my computer right now....Yes! You are correct! For some strange reason whenever I hear this anthem, I think of the Prange's first, and then the pictures of heaven. "....forever and forever clad in robes of white....." This is especially poignant after the funeral services yesterday, the one I attended and the one I did not. "For God would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth..." The comfort for those left behind to mourn is that in heaven there are no more tears, because Jesus will wipe them all away. "....and there from care released......."

Still waiting to hear from the plumber

The sun feels so awesome pouring in on me as I sit here in the window. I could possibly look like Jim and Bob did on Sunday after they got heavy doses of sunshine at the racetrack in Daytona on Saturday. Odd, but they had sunshine while we had rainy skies most of the day! But, these two guys looked so cute with only half of their faces reddened, like aliens on Star Trek! Bob is quite pale ordinarily because he lives in MI where the sun never shines.....

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While the two guys were at the race track, Janet and Karen went to have a pedicure at some shop in Middleburg where they charge less than a dollar per toe! Wow! What a great price and great time they had together. Certainly they had the giggles there, as they do every time they are together.

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Some of my Middleburg family is planning a cruise in mid-October in celebration of Sandy's birthday plus some have other events like anniversaries to celebrate. I was invited to join the fun and the price was so excellent that it seemed foolish to turn down. The rule of thumb is generally $100 a day for a cruise but this was far less money than that. BUT, and that is a huge but, right now, I simply could not justify paying a deposit for a cruise with my financial future so up in the air. I would be Nero fiddling while Rome burns. The price quoted to me was as a single in a room which is generally more than if I had a roommate, the price of two per cabin would be better yet. Joanne and I talked about it and she suggested if I decide to go later on, to find a last minute fare which might be just as good or even better than the one quoted to me now. I told Jen not to write me off totally, not 'til the fat lady sings anyway. Boo hoo hoo!!

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Speaking of Joanne, she is still feeling poorly but at least some of her symptoms have subsided. Yesterday she was at work most of the day but this a.m. she is yet in her pj's at 10:30 a.m. I suggested to her that perhaps her stomach and connected systems are "bruised" from the abuse they endured during the worst of her bug. Often after a headache, I will feel as though my brain is bruised from the pounding. For my own purposes, I have signed up to visit the Life Line Screening mobile unit in Mandarin on Saturday afternoon. My former spouse and I had done this once before when they were in Eagle Harbor and it is quite thorough yet economical as compared with a doctor's office ordering the same tests. My aortas and such will be examined via ultrasound, my blood tested for various things and levels, bone density exam, and other stuff. The last time I had to have blood work done for the doctor, it cost me over $500 out-of-pocket expense, and while it might be more comprehensive than the Life Line testing, many of the same answers will obtained. The bad thing is that I must fast for 8 hours prior to the testing and my appointment is not until mid afternoon. Watch out, Mandarin, I will be hungry!

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Yesterday on Facebook, I put out a request for suggestions for fun things we can do with our Youth Group at church. Some ideas flowed in, a few of which we have used already with some success. We recently hosted a Super Bowl Party here, a Guitar Hero play-off at Pastor's, a movie showing at church, game night.....During the Super Bowl gathering we asked those in attendence what they would like to do for fun events and one girl suggested going to a batting cage or bowling. Good! Love the input! A couple of the kids are competitive bike riders but am not sure that would transfer to a group event or not. Timing seems to be the enemy here with kids already being quite busy in their extra-curricular lives, but our goal is not to keep them busy. The goal would be to help them establish sound relationships with their sisters and brothers of the congregation and spend down time in the Word. I did some research yesterday regarding ideas for Youth Groups and have many ideas stirring around, can't wait to get together with Kathy and Brian to kick some of them around. But, if your congregation has an active and/or growing Young People's program, please send me your ideas, okay? Thanks!

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Well, the plumber will not be coming here until 4:00 pm so I am free as bird until then. He claims it will not take long for him to switch it out so I can keep my plans to meet the ladies for dinner at Cracker Barrel. Even though we do not have class tonight, that does not mean we cannot meet for comfort foods by the fireplace! Meatloaf anyone????