God's mercies are new every day!

Last Monday, I was busy on Wesley Patrol. He had just lay down for a long winter's nap after lunch and I was at the computer. I got up to check on him after he quieted down. Passing through the kitchen I smelled something hot, burning. I checked on Wesley and went back to investigate. To make a long, stressful story "sorta" shorter, as I raced around the kitchen, where the smell was the most and getting worse, I tried to figure out where the smell got lesser in the house. God planted me in the living room looking back at the kitchen. The ceiling light was on and in the illumination on the top of the light upwards there was smoke curling up and around the light. I snapped of the light, snatched up the pup, to the back room to get the leash, grabbed Wesley's coat off the table, dialed Joel on the cphone, got to Wesley's side - he's sound asleep, woke him up and got his coat on. All the while, trying to explain in "panic" fashion to Joel what was happening, what I had done, and what I was doing, and how I didn't know what to do--but I was ready to take the two most important living beings outside with me if need be. Joel said to shut the circuit breaker off and call the fire department. I told Benny to stay put--and he did! I took Wesley with me downstairs to unlock the doors. The small captain's truck arrived and these 2 burly firemen came in the house with this little gadget, pointing it to the ceiling. They called back to the station that there was no fire and no further assistance needed. Two minutes later up came the big fire truck with 5 more firemen and the police cars came. I laughed and said I didn't think that the message was understood. One guy when out to wave off the others while the other explained that 2 of the curly florescent bulbs had had the ballests burn out and started to smoke. The sockets are blackened. Said that they were glad to make 100 of this type of call of just "checking" than to have to come with a full blown fire. 

I then sat down with Wesley and Benny to praise the Lord and try to get my heart to stop pounding. 

God is good all the time and is in control.

Praise the Lord with me.

Busy Day!

Just found this thought as the beginning of a very busy day.

Quit sweating, quit wrestling, It is not TRY, but TRUST.

-John G. Lake

God is bigger than any problem or mountain that I have to climb today.

How cold is it in Creston?

Well Larry's car wouldn't start this morning, so I drove him out to work. Just as I snapped this picture the digital changed from -16. When we got up it was -17. That's actual temperature, not wind chill. We've had a good wind so I'm sure the figure is way down there like -25 to 35. 

Church was cancelled last night because of the bitter cold. Most schools around closed, but Creston's kids must be hale and hearty and the buses must be very dependable because Creston's schools weren't among the list of cancellations. 

Working on wedding flowers, sorting "stuff," and getting ready for company. Did a bit of work on the railroad last night--put plaster down on the landscape so that the grass won't just be a flat terrain.

Thot-

"No news is bad, when you're walking in the will of God."

Boy am I boiling....

water that is. I think I have my emotions under control. The DNR issued a Boil Alert last Monday. Over the weekend ago, the filtration systems failed and there are little Germanies and "cites" in the water, so we have been boiling the water. This morning Larry sent me an update, and evidently they have not gotten the system totally back online. So I'm still boiling. That means all water used for preparation and cooking, brushing teeth, and drinking must be boiled for 1 full minute. Oh, I could go buy bottled water, but if boiling it will do the trick why spend money on the stuff in the plastic bottles. 

Started my new job this morning. I am first officer in charge of Wesley Patrol. I excitedly am beginning this 3 days a week. Amber started teaching at Mayflower Christian School today, so Joel drops Wesley off before he goes to work. Thursday and Friday are my days off so 2 other gals from church are caring for this precious little guy. It will be different not having the freedom to just do as I have been used to. But right now I WANT to care for for my grandson that God has given. 

Thot:

What my mouth speaks, my ears hear, my brain registers, and my body responds.

So if I think I'm 30 years old and tell myself that I am, then my body "should" respond accordingly. 

This thot came from Dr. Charles Stanley's sermon yesterday on "How to stay young and fruitful all your life, from Psalm 92:12-15

The new year

Well, we did it. We took the Christmas tree down, and then rearranged the living room! Man! What a job. Guess if I didn't like it, I'm too tired to put it back the way it was. Larry was a great help. We both pushed and shoved. He had some good suggestions. Poor Benny does seem a bit dazed as to getting around to get his ball when it's thrown. Oh well, maybe you CAN teach old dogs new tricks.

Larry got us memberships to the YMCA for this year. We have enjoyed going out to walk. Looking forward to swimming later on. Our neighbor goes every day and has invited me to go with her when I can.

Monday I begin full-time Wesley Patrol while Mommy begins to teach at the Mayflower Christian School. Grandmom and Wesley will have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to do fun things together. Amber has two others to take the rest of the week. 

The Lord has given me four weddings so far to do for this year. Just 2 in the last couple weeks. Have one in March, June, July, and October. The flowers for March and October have been ordered. October's are here but March's haven't arrived as yet because of the holidays. I'm gonna be busy. Maybe I'll have to teach Wesley how to wire individual flowers and wrap stems. :-) 

We've had ice, snow, 50º weather, ice, 50º weather, mist, rain, wind, and something that is making the lights flicker even as I write. Omaha has gotten hit with ice, I guess as the TV says most of the malls are closed. Think most of that storm went north of us. Oh well tis the season for weather. Hmmmmm............

Our dear friends, the Rutledges, have moved again. They are in Ohio right now. They needed to be nearer people instead of way out in the country. The Lord provided them a home 30 miles from their mission office. Lord willing they will be out here in Iowa in a couple of weeks.

Well studying for my Bible study tomorrow in John 11. Came across the thought in the commentary I was reading…one of the reasons Jesus wept was because that He knew what Heaven was like, and He knew that in His next breath He would be asking Lazarus to come back from Heaven to this earth to go through death again. Also Jesus was specific in the calling of Lazarus to come forth from the grave. This commentator said had He not been and just said, "Come forth!" all the graves in the cemetery would have given up their dead.

I'm still "workin' on the railroad." Have the 2 trains running very smoothly. Now working on making it "pretty." Making rock formations, tunnels, grass, fields, streets, and building buildings out of kits. Having fun getting some items off of e-Bay. I always slide those bids in in the last 37 seconds of the auction. Last couple of times I've come out winning the auction. I'm sure I'm not making friends by doing that. All is fair in love and auctions.