On another note...

....it is bright outside right now. Not necessary sunshiny but at least not the heavy fog blanket over the river and no rain on my windows. Someone told me yesterday it was okay to have the rain because we needed it so badly but really, the sun would be most welcome periodically during the day as well. If it is going to be grey and cloudy, it should rain and have it over with, instead of just threatening to do so. In my humble opinion....

As I drove home from Victory last night I had hoped to be guided by the moon, or have it light my path, but, did not. In fact, the wipers had to come on along the way, but only for sprinkles. For dinner, I met Linda O. at Times Grille where I enjoyed a lovely dinner of meatloaf with mashed potatoes. What a portion! Of course, a to-go box came to the table and I will enjoy that meal once more today, or tomorrow---we shall see! Linda and I got caught up before going to Victory to see and hear Chris Driesbach. What an amazing story this man has to share, not only the destruction and rebuilding of his church and member's homes after Hurricane Katrina and the resulting flood, but his own personal 'destruction' and rebuilding when he came to faith.

A self-confessed atheist, he had made friends with his neighbor in Anchorage, AK, a pastor named Jim, who did one-on-one Bible instruction with Chris. Chris said he looked forward to having a cup of coffee and arguing about religion with his friend, Jim. On the sixth lesson, this atheist who was too smart for God, realized that he did indeed suddenly know the Lord and what He did for him. Wow! He went from having a heart of stone to a heart of faith. After the concert and presentation, I had a chance to talk to Pastor Hoyer about what that must be like for a pastor, to have this happen right across the desk from him....At our baptism, we are washed with water and the Word, as infants, and receive the promise of salvation from the Lord. While it is obvious then what is happening, it has to be so cool to have an adult come to faith right before ones eyes. I remember one baptism at Good Shepherd when the baby reached up and touched the pastor's hand as he was applying the water....and it moved him.

In the afternoon, I had gone to the groomers for my full-moon haircut, again in the gloom and mist of the day. Nothing in me wanted to keep my date with Linda but she talked me into it and I am so glad she did. She said she was looking forward to going out, talk to someone other than her students, and have a beer. She needed me! So I went, and rejoice for it! She is teaching in the nursing program at a career technical college in the area, with one subject she is teaching being ethics in medicine. Yikes! But what a good person to have for teaching such a subject. Linda told me she teaches 20 hours a week and takes 40 hours to prep! This is something I like to hear and know. My friend told me the other day how her husband is taking college classes now and is amazed and disappointed at how unprepared the 'professor' is when he comes to class. What he is supposed to be teaching the students, he cannot figure out himself. And for big money!!??!!

Yay! the sun is coming in the window now! All is well with the world. The other day I complained to Connie, the maintenance lady here at The Palace, about the lack of sunshine, telling her I was solar powered. She looked at me quizzically and said, "Don't you have power?" and then realized that I meant personally, I am solar powered. Oh, Connie, after all this time...? Every day this week she asked me about the football game this weekend, asking if I was putting my flag out again, and so on. I am so excited about the game! I told someone last night that I don't care if I am alone to watch it or with eight people, it will be a hoot---I hope!