This morning Ron and I attended Beach Road Baptist Church. It was the second time we have been to this church. Both times we have felt welcomed right from the beginning and feel very comfortable in the service. Today’s Sermon was titled “Grab a Seat” by Pastor James Zik. The scripture was rooted in Ecclesiastes 7:1-12.
The theme that spoke to me is that one of our jobs here on earth is build relationships. That is one of the things we try to do with the children/adolescents that we serve in our position as a Home Parent. We were reminded today that our Character is one of the most important things about ourselves and something we stress that those in our care have control over. That who we are on the inside and we demonstrate on the outside is what is important. That we need to be consistent in our behavior all the time, not just when we are at church or with certain people but how we are all the time, in every situation.
Another big thing that spoke to me today is the reminder to Be Slow to Anger! I have learned over the years that it really didn’t do me any good to get angry over every little thing but to THINK before I spoke and that really life is too short to let anger control my every action.
The final thought on the sermon reminds me of many of the conversations we had over the past two weeks with The Girl that was in our care. And that is
It is important to remember what has happened to us, what we have done in the past but it doesn’t do any good to live in the past. That what is important is what happens today, what choices we make today and where we keep our focus – today, in the moment and the future…making good choices.
Thank you Lord for the sermon this morning, the time to gather with like believers and to be reminded that first and foremost I am loved by you just the way I am and that you give me the ability to look where I was and to focus on today and the future, making choices that reflect You in my life.Amen
…first thing. I have a page on Facebook called “What’s for Dinner”. Let me know if you want an invite. It is a group where we post what we are having or had for dinner. Whether homemade, store bought or even a trip to a restaurant. Yesterday someone posted they made clam chowder. A few people had made some comments and one gal (a friend of a sister of one of my friend’s) posted something with the “F Bomb” in her response. I asked her to please delete the comment. She came back quite snarky at me asking if “ass” was okay. I replied with the following message: I don’t think it is …but the F bomb is truly not okay. As the one and only admin of this group which I started for friends and family to share what they are cooking/having for meals to give other ideas I guess i am able to say what I will and will not allow on my page. If you find you must use swear words to communicate I will as I mentioned previously block you from the group. I find no need to use the F bomb or any other swear words and if that offends you – that is on you. This is my group and very family friendly. I do not want my children or grandchildren exposed to that type of language and since I can’t control the world, I can control my Facebook pages. Got absolutely no response from her and she didn’t delete her comment with what I think is an offensive word.
I then went back on as Admin (I am the one and only) and posted this to the whole group:
Note from Admin: This is a private, family friendly group made up of friends and family members and friends of my friends. I, as the one and only admin, feel saddened that I had to have a conversation about appropriate language with an adult…so I will say it loud and clear:Using the F BOMB in this group will not be tolerated. I will ask you politely to remove any post with that word (or for that matter any other word I find offensive (or that someone else messages me about that is offensive) one time. If you choose to argue with me. I will remove the comment/post and if it happens by the same person a second time you will be blocked from this group.If anyone has a problem with this I would suggest you remove yourself from this group immediately.
Still no response from her. A sweet friend of mine responded to her as well “Perhaps this isn’t the group for you? Ali is the group owner. I feel we are “in her house” when we are here. If you cannot abide by the “house rules”, and need to provoke the homeowner with your comments, this isn’t the place for you. This is a private group, not an open forum.”
Just curious what others think? I feel like I need to give an explanation of why I feel how I feel and yet at the same time I wonder why people think they need to swear in a conversation. Don’t get me wrong, I have swore before and knowing myself, probably will again – usually in a fit of anger. Not right I know but I am human.
The next thing I have been pondering is friendship. We have had quite a few talks with The Girl since she has been in our care about friends, acquaintances, and Besties. Can girls have boy friends without being boyfriend/girlfriend. I say yes. I have male friends and my hubby who is my Bestie of Bestie friends and we don’t see that as a problem. Ron also has female friends and that is okay with me. We have couple friends and single friends. We have close friendships with people we are physically far from and yet when we have been apart for any length of time when we do get back together it is like no time has passed at all…well except for maybe a few more grey hairs.
One of the things we told The Girl was that you can have many friends. And do different things with different friends. We are friends with Jen & Lee ~ we love to go out to eat together, have a beer or glass of wine together and just visit together. Another couple we are friends with, Pat & Pat – we love to go out for Chinese food together, have been to a county fair together, shared many a meal but we would never think of drinking with them. And that is okay too.
I think of my friend Merel, we didn’t see each other for 25+ years but when we finally did get back together it was as if time hadn’t stopped. We are each other’s sister, we share her Mom and enjoy each other’s company. We have been through the thick and thin together. And then there is Dee, my Bestie….we have so much fun together and can talk up a storm – Ron and I were just talking about mine and Dee’s coffee date that lasted for over 8 hours at the local Blaine Woods one day. We had been together all day, not realizing we had taken up the corner for the whole day until I noticed it was getting dark outside…where did the time go….we laughed and talked, laughed and cried together and we always say we are ready to do it again any chance we get…can’t wait for Covid to disappear or at least for Washington to open up the state quarantine guidelines so we can make a trip back and go have that long needed and awaited coffee date.
Friendships…how would you describe a friend? Do you have to see, physically see that person to remain friends? Or can you “see” each other through email and texts and the occasional phone call and still be the best of friends?
One of the things Ron and I have talked about a lot lately is our need for some local friends. Jen and Lee are local and we try to get together at least once each week we are off and we are so thankful they moved to Texas to NC. Yet, what Ron and I are realizing is that we need more people in our local circle of friends…people we go to church with, can hang out for game night with, maybe meet for a meal or even have over for a picnic meal at our trailer. I am so thankful for our Northwood Chapel family, for our New Life BC family, our Cedarcreek family and yet look forward to expanding our church family here in NC.
And this leads me to another question…how do you make new friends? where do you make new friends at? What do you look for in new friends?
Another thing I have been thinking about is our upcoming road trip to Florida…4 more days and we get to drive to Florida to see our son, Brandon, and his wife, Danalyn and three of our four grandsons! Time is speeding past and this Grammy needs some hugs!!!
(I don’t know this author but love the picture)
and get some
tall son hugs!!! again not a picture of Brandon and me – but you get the idea!!!
Guess that’s all for today, need to run some errands and get a roast in the oven for dinner tonight!!! Hope everyone has a great day!!!
Just saying that makes me want to just go skipping down a lane.
What do you think of when you hear that phrase?
Well we didn’t go skipping today ~ we went for a drive 🙂
First let me share the drive we went on last Thursday, 4/25/13
It was a beautiful sunny day and a great day for a drive. Ron said if it stays warm and sunny soon it will be time to put the soft top on the Jeep, we just figure out where to store the hard top.
And then on Sunday after Ron got off work we went for another drive
I love all the purple flowers we see along the roads. And Ron just missed hitting the turtle so we had to go back and get a couple of pictures of him. When we turned back around to go the way we wanted he had started to stick his head out a little but we didn’t stop to take another picture. Maybe if I see another one I could make it a pet 🙂
There are all kinds of roads ~ paved, two lane, gravel and even dirt roads. But we love the scenery! And we met the sweetest lady and her two kids (older teenagers) at the little grocery store Altamont ~ she gave us all types of places to visit and see in the area. Ron was excited to hear about a lake about 30 miles from our campsite where we can go swimming this summer.
The center row of this picture is an old school house at an intersection out in the country. It would have been fun to traipse around inside but it is all fenced off.
When we first came across these horses (top right photo) it appeared they were grazing in the middle of the road. But upon getting closer we found they were actually in a fenced field at a corner. We saw lots of beautiful horses. Each time we saw a Paint, we would talk about our sweet friends, Al & Selma Gienger. We miss their friendship and fellowship here on earth but we know one day we will be celebrating in heaven with them.
I read in one of the local free papers that a Farmers Market was going to be held on Tuesday’s from 4 to 6 p.m. and today would be the first one of the season. Guess it was time for another road trip – this one 33 miles away according to Maggie (our GPS)
These are pictures of every road we turned on as we drove from Liberty, KS (the actual town we live in) to Parsons, KS. Again, see all the different types of roads. We did have to make one stop and that was the gas station in the center of the picture. Gas was $3.39 a gallon.
These are sights we saw on the road leading into Parsons.
The center picture below is the Farmers Market. There were three vendors. We bought some green onions, radishes and a dozen brown eggs. And we got it all for $3!!!
We just loved seeing all the old homes. I would love to see the interior of some of them, especially the home pictured in the top left and the two along the left border – all the same home.
These are the roads from Parsons, KS to Angola, KS
This is entering into Angola. The top picture is the old school…it has lots of broken windows but we surmise it was beautiful in its prime. And the Methodist church next to the school. Sunday School is at 9 a.m. and the worship service begins at 10:45. Reminds us of what we think ole’ country churches looked like.
And what could be better to end the day then with a foot massage. I love when Ron massages my feet and puts lots of lotion on them ~ it is just difficult because I am so darn ticklish and so we have to stop every few minutes till I quit laughing. And don’t those toenails look pretty – yep, he also does my nails for me 🙂
Yep ~ I am one blessed lady!!!
Hope you have enjoyed following along on the A to Z Challenge for 2013.
Stay tuned for more updates about our life as we live/work/travel and share the blessings of the Lord living in our comfy 37′ Class A Motor home newly named The Wander Lodge.
Have been feeling kind of NUMB after hearing the news of the horrible explosions at the Boston Marathon.
I just can’t wrap my mind around how people can hurt innocent people.
I know there is evil in the world but it still hurts thinking about those who were killed or injured in this horrible tragedy.
I wish I could say more but Numb is all I can think of.
Then I remember a scripture verse I wrote about the other day
And I find myself asking the Lord to be with those who have been hurt and with the family’s of those who lost loved ones.
As well as with parents all over the US who are talking to their children about this incident. Lord give those parents wisdom to know how much to share and encourage them to pray with their children and for the Lord to give them each that peace that passes all understanding.
And I am reminded of my life verse:
And that even though I am feeling NUMB the Lord is still in charge and He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
And no matter the road we travel I am reminded I am never alone.
and then I thought about the word NEVER and learning to
In the early years of our marriage I told Ron I would
Never move to Blaine
Never live with his mom
Never go to the Birch Bay Mennonite Church
Never live at the farm where he was raised
Well the Lord showed me it is NOT my will BUT HIS WILL for my life
because in February 1989 we moved to Blaine and in with Ron’s mom and we lived with each other for 3 1/2 months and didn’t kill each other 🙂
and we started to attend Birch Bay Bible Mennonite Church where Ron had attended all his grown up years. Not only did we attend there we became members and attended the church for over three years. We moved on to another church for three years and then returned to Birch Bay Bible Mennonite Church for another three years!!! Can you hear God laughing yet???
And in June of 1990 Anne, Ron’s mom, asked us if we would move to the farm. It was a beautiful home, 2500 square feet on 40 acres.
Some of our best years were spent on that farm.
We raised our own meat: Sheep, Steers, Pigs, and Goats.
(lots of stories will be shared later about the life of living on a farm with animals who have minds of their own 🙂 )
We had some great parties and get-together’s.
(more stories to come)
And faced some difficult challenges
BUT through it all God was faithful!
And in my numbness today I am reminded to stay strong and keep my faith in the Lord. He has never let me down!!!
Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, help me to keep my faith strong in you!
While we have been here in Branson we have attended Friendly Baptist Church. And it is just that FRIENDLY. We were warmly greeted by Pastor Cardis Bryan and had met Bill & Virginia Hickox through an RV Facebook page that I belong to. Shortly after our arrival here in Branson Virginia invited me to a women’s fellowship luncheon and we attended a services there. We love the great Southern Gospel Music, all the old hymns and the great preaching by Pastor Cardis. As campground managers we couldn’t always make it to services on Sunday mornings and we just hoped they would understand. And they did 🙂 Pastor Cardis came and visited us one day here at the campground and told us we were always welcome whenever we could make it. And there was no pressure to join the church ~ we explained that our home church is in Blaine at Northwood Alliance Church and that was not an issue like the church we attended off/on in Hondo, TX. That made attending Friendly Baptist Church very enjoyable with no pressure. We found out a couple of weeks ago that Pastor Cardis was retiring and today would be his last Sunday preaching there. We made sure to make sure we could go today. And boy are we glad. What a glorious service honoring Pastor Cardis & Stephanie and hearing how the church started and how God has blessed them over and over. If you are ever in the Branson area we encourage you to attend a service or two.
Here are a few pictures and some of the special music we were treated to.
The Choir leading the opening song accompanied by so many wonderful musicians.
The Stained Glass window above the baptistry. When the sun is shining through it gives off such beautiful colors.
Pastor Cardis Bryan giving his last sermon “Memories”
Jerry, Son-in-law, singing a special tribute to Pastor Cardis
Music Director Bob Mabe and his sweet wife, Sue
Recognizing Pastor Cardis & Stephanie
Saying good-bye to Virginia & Bill Hickox
And we were invited to stay for lunch and boy was it tasty. We had fried chicken from Bobby Jack’s BBQ and was it delicious!!! And an assortment of salads, baked beans, corn and green beans w/ham 🙂 and ended with a variety of cupcakes.
Life with us ~ The Wandering Workentins 