Thunder in the distance

This morning's glorious sunrise

Sitting here at my desk, I can hear thunder rumbling. The sky at present is blue with lots of white, fluffy clouds, but further down the river, it is greying. This, if it materializes, will be a good test for the floor right above me, which was 'repaired' yesterday. 

I saw the guys going in there to do the work, familiar handy men who have done lots of work in the building already. I asked AJ if he was going to take care of the floor and he said he was, without having to take out the sliding glass doors. It is hard to imagine just how he could do that but now, we shall see!

                                                    

The wind is kicking up now and the thunder more frequent. An hour or so ago the mullet were having a blast snapping insects from the air just above the calm surface of the river. No more! I think they've run for cover!

My eyes are heavy, along with the rest of me (ha, ha---I am a bully to myself, evidently!), because after last night's debates, I was too wound up to fall asleep. Wow! Talk about hitting it out of the ball park. Justin and I were set up in my room like watching a football game, he still enjoying having "Linda's chair" in my room. Tonight it has to go back to the family room, but for last night, we were good!

I had gone over to The Club for Happy Hour having been told by Marlena that Chef was incorporating my suggestions for the menu. If he was going to do that for me, the least I could do was go over to enjoy them. Justin asked me to bring him back some food, too, as he was busy in the kitchen making strawberry pretzel torte when I left. Sadly, when I got there, Marlena had given me a bum steer (a little sirloin slider humor there....), finding only popcorn and snack mix to enjoy. 

We had a smaller group probably because Hugh and Maureen are gone on a trip. We had suggestion sheets in front of us to complete choosing the lite menu. I did a few write-ins as there was very little I would walk over there for. Salad?? Really??

                                                        

Justin served us some torte after we had leftover vegetable soup for our dinner, once I got home. Just as we got settled in, my friends on Facebook were signing in, many of them saying what I did-----"Here we go!" 

The two of us were apprehensive at the start of the debate but in a few minutes it was clear how this was gong to go. The President did not do his homework, did not know things he has put into practice over his 4 years, while his competitor was well rehearsed and versed on where he stood. Bravo!

As I listened to the radio on my ride back from Bible study this a.m., one of the hosts I listened to had a guest on who kept track of the most used words by each debater. For Mitt Romney, his most used word was "private", as in insurance, business, lives, and so on. The word most used by the President was a combo of "and, um..." I am sure this is no exaggeration as there are computer programs which can do these word sorts. And, um, why does it matter? The comparison speaks volumes!

Now, we will look forward to the floor being wiped with the VP candidates debating next week. I wonder if Justin will make another torte or if he will come up with some other celebratory treat...The grey has overtaken the blue skies and a good deal of lightning is flashing so I think it's time to close this computer and retreat for my rest. Here comes the rain!

Dee and Blair

Blair is out of the hospital and is out eating pizza with his bride, Dee! All is well!

Feeling like a witch

As I stand at the stove and stir my big kettle of soup, I feel especially witchy. It will eventually be vegetable beef soup when all is said and done. Besides the hamburger, I added an entire head of cabbage, half a bag of frozen mixed veggies, some diced onions, and a can of beer. The base for the soup is Bloody Mary Mix---oh yes, this will be good. Should have used a cauldron!

The ideal weather for such a kettle of soup would be colder air temperatures but this is not the case here. Yesterday it was 91 above zero mid-afternoon and today is expected to be just a shade cooler than that. But my mouth is ready for some veggie beef soup!

                                        

Justin had a shorter day yesterday which worked out great for him going back to the dentist. He was having troubles getting used to his new fillings, and it seemed that perhaps they (one or both) were too high, affecting the teeth on the bottom. He said it felt as though he had meat stuck between his teeth and he couldn't get it loose. 

I sent Peggy, the dentist, an e-mail on Sunday night plus left a message on the office answering machine, and they were able to see him in the afternoon. One, two, three and he was out the door, once they determined which one was high, and ground it down for him. Last night it was still sore, which she said it may be for a couple days, but he is confident now that the problem is corrected. I hate this for him, more than I can say.

Justin reports that it might be only a couple more weeks until he moves in with Ron and Sarah, and possibly Jesse. He has said this before and nothing has come of it but perhaps I should brace for his departure anyway. He had expected to be moved out in April but now we are looking at just after the elections. Certainly I will miss him like nuts but it is better for him, and for me, probably, that he gets out on his own. And I will have my guest rooms back!

Justin jokes about having to move the food and dishes back down to the bottom shelves in the kitchen so I can reach them. He frowns upon my climbing around on the step stool.I tease him that he will get a call from my neighbors complaining about the smell coming from my condo, me having fallen off my stool. He thinks I would be found much sooner because I didn't show up somewhere where I was expected. Shoot! My attempts to scare him have failed----or did they? Next he will want to get me a Life Alert necklace or something, but he knows I would be too paranoid about people spying on me to wear it!

Monday I had the most delightful luncheon at Dee's house with six other ladies. (Had to miss my usual lunch with the Bible study ladies at Longhorn, but it was worth it!) The other guests were all artists, and consider me to be one, as well. After all, I did enter a piece in the recent show at Great Hang Ups! I am so honored to be included in her artists' circle of friends, only one of whom I did not already know. Dee served us several courses including soup, salad, chicken salad, cheese bread, and then, for dessert, fresh assorted berries with meringue 'cookies'. 

It was also nice to see her new home, where Blair and she moved over the holidays while I was in WI. Blair was just finishing his lunch from Panera Bread when I arrived, and I joined him at the table while he did so. He was going to hide in his room during the luncheon but at least I did get to see him for a bit. Definitely slowing down....Last night I saw on Facebook that he was in the hospital, in the ER, undergoing some tests. He was finally admitted in the wee hours and is being observed today. I hope having the ladies over wasn't too much for him!

Last night was Ladies' Group at church. Justin wanted to borrow my car so we stopped for gas on the way, he grabbed a couple sodas at the Racetrack, and then off to church. Judy and Carol were already there, so he left me in their care and went to St. Johns TC Mall to the Apple store. 

I sent him a text message reporting I was done, timed just right, I thought. He wrote back that he was at Publix taking advantage of a sale on Diet Coke and would be there in 10 minutes. Judy and Terri T. were going to wait with me but just then he rolled into the parking lot. Carol was in a rush to get home to watch "Dancing With The Stars" which tickles me, for some reason. She's a hoot!

A football day

We had a nice group in Bible study Sunday for our study of the Apostle Peter. It is interesting how much we are like Peter, strong one moment, and wavering the next. My prayer is that Jesus never has to say to me, or say it again, "Get thee behind me, Satan!"

Our worship, being the 5th Sunday of the month, featured favorite hymns which were sung at the beginning of the service. The first one was so appropriate in my mind as Ruth opened her eyes in heaven earlier in that morning---"In Christ Alone". Robbie was playing for us and told me before worship that his young nephew had chosen that hymn, and his other nephew had chosen another one we sang, "Take, and Eat", a communion hymn. Gotta love those boys!

There was a WELS Connection video shown after the service, telling how students come to Martin Luther College. Many have attended Lutheran high schools or have devoted pastors in their congregation which inspire their desire for public ministry. (At FG in Manitowoc, the cameras for WELS Connection were going to be recording the Hmong-American pot luck taking place after worship. How cool is that!? Look for it next year some time...)

It was Fellowship Sunday with Judy busy  getting things ready for it. I stayed around to help clean up so we could get to lunch. There was good attendance for this event with little left over. We went to Chili's for a change (ha, ha!), just Michael, Judy, and me this time. We were not sure where Terri was, and I could not remember if she told me what was going on this weekend. Justin was tailgating with his friends so was absent also.

The football game was a late one, starting at 4:00 pm, but the guys went downtown early enough to get a better parking place in order to tailgate. Justin had chicken skewers to make, plus some breakfast foods along. I would be just as happy to have one of those marvelous brats in the  stadium, but my idea of fun and theirs are quite different!

Even though Sunday was the last day the cabana would be open, I decided not to go out. Since the game was late, I expected the cabana to close before the game was over, usually at 5:00 pm for closing time on Sunday. Julius might have stayed open longer if there was enough business but my mind was made up. Having plenty of leftovers to feast on, I was good!

The jets for the flyover woke me from my rest, as  they swooped and soared along the river. I was on Facebook with my sister, Kerry, the Packer game having started after the Jags. I could watch, sort of, on the Internet, not live action, though. The Jaguars lost, but the Packers won a squeaker. Kerry was so excited she thought she would be sick! That's just how she gets when watching football.

The playing of the Jaguars makes me sick, even considering finding something else to do on Sunday afternoon, but I returned to my senses and will be watching again next week! Twice during the game I had rain, while other areas around me there was none. Finally, I think the 2nd shower hit more people, and the football game ended in the pouring rain. Later, the sky was nothing but lightning, and thankfully, no leaks from upstairs!

My friend, Dee, called to remind me of a luncheon at her house Monday afternoon. It had been a while since I heard about the event so was glad to know we were still on. This means I will need to leave Bible study in time to make it back to Fleming Island for noon. No lunch at Longhorn today. Justin wondered if the others would still go. Of course they will! Fran is coming to this Bible study, making this part of her normal routine from now on. Love it, and love her!

Gorgeous view

This photo was taken from the pool area almost straight out from The Palace. The moon looks magnificent rising over the building as my neighbors and I enjoyed the evening on Friday. The last weekend of the cabana being open----what an amazing finish to the season!

Taking a break

I am unapologetic about my deep interest in current affairs, most especially the politics of the day. Not only the presidential race and the survival of our nation as we know it, (no, that is not being overly dramatic) but, also the tumult in the Middle East and everywhere else the world is on fire. In all this, one can wonder what the Lord has in mind with all the disruption and potential for disaster. Is it because the world has turned its back on Him? One cannot help but suppose this to be true. 

BUT, this afternoon, I am taking a break from pondering the terrors in our future, the uncertainty of our financial state, and that of our children. Instead, my attention is directed to a Facebook page dedicated to a young woman named Ruth. Ruth---what a lovely name!

Several months ago I read about this young woman, watched a video recording of her infant son being baptized while yet in the NICU bassinet, using a wet cotton ball to wash John with the saving water and Word. If memory serves, he was baptized by his grandfather.

The mom, Ruth, was diagnosed with stomach cancer during her pregnancy. Rather than risk the health of the baby with surgery or other treatment, Ruth chose to go untreated until such time it was safe to deliver the baby. Her cancer was advanced and the prognosis not good....at least for her earthly existence.

Now, Ruth is in her final stages, as folks expect at any moment to be told she breathed her last breath. Her baby lies alongside of her on occasion, as family and friends take turns helping to care for her husband and the baby. Both the parents are students, or were, at Bethany Lutheran College, MN, with Ruth being extremely gifted musically.

The postings on Facebook come in fast and furious, with today being no exception. Her father-in-law reports in every so often, telling how she responded when the Hospice nurse was there, about the prayers he says with her, and so on. 

Her friends, and those who have never met her but are FB friends, send in their comments, wishing Ruth a speedy arrival in heaven so her suffering on earth will come to an end. Many, many, many are people who know them from school (MN and WI) report how they will remember Ruth. Her musical abilities, her kindness and sweet nature, the strength of her faith in God, her love, oh my goodness---the outpouring!!

What strikes me most (I have meant to write about this all week) are the hymn stanzas folks are putting in their postings. Our rich, rich treasure in the hymnals, the great bounty of comfort and assurance. Last week one woman wrote about the hymns selected for weddings. I somehow failed to notice, or was too distracted to notice, how many hymns end with the same thoughts---that of heaven. Ruth would play the organ and sing for weddings, which is even more moving about all this.

Nearly every posting remarks about Ruth's fine example of Christian love she is for others, that this will be her legacy for her son. I personally hope that someone with such a skill will be able to scoop the postings into a book for her son and husband to cherish. But more than anything, it's the hymn stanzas being posted that stir me, as many of them are favorites of mine. 

My heart aches for this young woman I do not know, and for the husband and infant son, and for the parents on each side of the family. Perhaps a smidge more for her parents as they are not 'supposed' to be burying their children. Hopefully they will soon so Ruth can begin her time at the heavenly banquet, singing with the choir around the throne with the other saints and angels.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150540626434492

P.S. (from Facebook) At 12:38 am on Sept. 30th, Ruth passed from this life to the arms of her Lord in heaven.

Oh, this is getting good....and scary!

Taken verbatim from a news website: 

In case you did not hear that clearly, we will transcribe it as best we can. 

“Everybody in Cleveland, low minorities, got Obama phone. Keep Obama in president, you know. He gave us a phone, he gonna do more.”

The person shooting the video asks, "How did he give you a phone?" to which the woman replies: “You sign up! If you on food stamps, you on social security, you got low income, you disability…”

The video includes a cut at that point and picks up with the filmer asking “What’s wrong with Romney?” Without blinking, the passionate Obama supporter says:

“Romney, he sucks! Bad.” (End of posting on website)

The woman in the video is nearly screeching/hollering during this rant...oh my!

This needs to appear in all the ads, ending with the words: "...and I endorse this message!"