March 27

May 27, 2011~

“The past is a place of reference, Not a place of residency.” ~ Willy Jolley

My day and night are switched around at the moment. When I start my 5 days of work, not much happens except work and sleep.  At least I did get to spend a little time with Ron this evening.

We watched some little clips on wimp.com about night photography. It looked fascinating and like fun! We both agreed that it is something we’d enjoy doing. Only need a new camera that costs a pretty penny. Guess we’ll wait on that for awhile.

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    I was able to get at least enough sleep today to be able to function just a little bit.

2.    A walk in the brisk cool air to help me wake up!

3.    Time to spend with Ron, just relaxing.

4.    A phone call from my oldest son, Nathan.

5.    Memories, oh, so precious.

March 26

March 26, 2011~

No doubt spring is here! On my two mile walk today, what did I hear? Sounds I haven’t heard through the winter months, beautiful melodic songs of birds! They were different from the songs I’ve been hearing, so they caught my attention and I went looking to see what birds they were. The House Finches are home!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.      House Finches! I love to listen to their singing.

2.      Winter is over!

3.      A relaxing day.

4.      Time to be able to just read and contemplate what God has spoken in His Word!

5.      A Husband willing to pick up the slack and fix delicious meals when I’m on my five day stretch at work!

March 25

March 25, 2011 ~

“A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.”  ~Toni Morrison

How do people make it through life without a sister? I guess God knew I couldn’t so he blessed me with an extra special one!  There is just something special about my sister. She is fun, funny, courageous, and an encouragement to me. And to think she will still put up with me after all these years! Let’s see how many pairs of shoes, how many blouses, and how many sweaters did I ruin because I “barrowed” my big sisters things? Funny thing today was, she reminded me of a pair of sandles I broke over thirty five years ago….life did go on! This little quote reminds me of years gone by…

“If your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, she's wearing your best sweater.”

 ~P. Brown   

I believe as long as I have a sister, I will always have a friend!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    My sister, Judy.

2.    Phones.

3.    A nice visit with Judy on the Phone!

4.    Had chores to occupy my time today. They got done at a relaxed pace.

5.    Didn’t have to run here and there today for any reason, I got to just stay home!

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of.  You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.  ~Amy Li

March 24

March 24, 2011~

Today was a sad day, because we lost Shar, Peter’s dog. Peter called this morning with the news.

Shar was a special dog! She was Peter’s shadow for 10 short years. She arrived on his 13^th birthday! When he was sad, her head on his knee could heal the human hurts. When he was happy, she was full of joy. When he made a mistake, she ignored it. She was devoted to her master. When he was sick she would put her head on his knee or curl up beside him. Shar would  lend a thoughtful ear, to any problem there might be. Shar was a watch dog and would let you know when someone was around that she didn’t know, or if it was someone she did know, that was of course coming over to “play” with her! But there was one thing Shar was not. She was not mean, even when someone or another animal was mean to her. She would defend herself, but only to the point of getting them to stop and then come and tell us about it with her head down and crying apologetically. Shar loved other animals and would lovingly play with horses, cows, goats, cats, gerbils, fancy mice,

 and any other animal she could find! They were all her friends!

Shar won’t bark again as she did when she’d come for a visit, or clean up the tasty morsel that drops to the ground,  she won’t come running to say, “Hi, Mom, I came back for a visit,” and no more doggy kisses planted on the cheek. She will be missed terribly by all who knew her. Although, time will bring a new dog, I am sure, there will always be one place in our hearts that just belongs to Shar. Shar did not leave us empty handed, she left us many happy memories. We will always remember how much she loved us and the thoughtful things she did. Now she is resting where she spent most of her life.

Happy For A Reason reasson's:

1.       Happy memories of Shar.

2.       A beautiful sunrise. It was as if it was a special gift from God reminding me that someday there will be no more tears, no more loosing our precious pets.

3.       I could have lunch with Peter and Candice.

4.       Ron stopped by my work and replaced my windshield wiper that the wind had broken two weeks ago during the rain and wind storm.

5.       I got to drive home in the rain with a fully working wiper! Amazing how much better one can see with a functioning wiper, in the dark of night while it is raining!

March 23

March 23, 2011~

Last night I split a shift with a co-worker. Actually, she took the night part and I took the early morning hours. I was up at 1:30 am and off to work. It was a nice paced morning. The four hours went by quickly. Not realizing what time it was, my relief, Eva, came early, with a smile and very positive attitude! Her cheerfulness truly was easy to catch! On the way home I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise, and by the time I got home I was feeling ready to go outside and work in the yard! Then to my surprise Ron had breakfast already! It got me thinking about the meal I will be eating someday soon with Jesus!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    Great co-workers like Eva!

2.    A beautiful sunrise!

3.    Breakfast fit for a queen with my best friend!

4.    It was a burn day and it isn’t raining!

5.    I was able to burn piles of branches and boxes that have been piling up all winter long! Sheba, my dog was out in the field with me. She was running around the field and into the pond having so much fun. The wind came up several times and blew some of the burning papers up into the wind and across the field. Sheba thought it was something to catch. Silly dog! You would think she would learn not to “play” with fire, but she kept going back for more. It got me to thinking about how much sin is like that. It looks so appealing, so “fun.” I go after it and get burned, sometimes only to go back for more.  Ouch! I get burned just like Sheba, if I play with fire.

Isaiah 64:6 “…and our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Yes, I so easily get blown off by the wind. Yet, if only I stop and remember what came before in, Isaiah 64:4.

⁴ “For since the beginning of the world
      Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
      Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
      Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
       ⁵ You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
      Who remembers You in Your ways.

There is hope! God is there, He works for those who wait for Him. He strengthens and helps those who happily do what is right.

^“ Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” ~Romans 6:12-14
So that means I must not give sin a vote in the way I conduct my life. No chasing after the burn papers as the wind pushes them along. I need not give it the time of day. Don’t do even “little” things that lead me back to what I know is not right. I must throw myself wholeheartedly  and fully into doing things God’s way! Sin can not tell me how to live. Because I am living in the freedom of God. I have the freedom to choose right!
 

March 22

March 22, 2011~

It is nice to be home. The temperature is about 20 degrees cooler than Tennessee, with partly cloudy skies. The sun is streaming through the clouds it is beautiful. As I was driving home this morning, I rounded a bend and saw the road lined with wild apple trees in bloom and the snow covered foothills of the Cascade Mountain range in the background. It is a scene I have experienced each spring for the last 25 years. I never cease to marvel, yet again, as my eyes look out over the snow covered mountains and the white blossoming apple trees. Yes, it is a beautiful sight God has created for me to enjoy!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    The beauty God has allowed me to enjoy for the last 25 years, as I drive down our road each spring.

2.    The time change. Now that one is a strange one I know, but, it allows me to see more daylight! Something I don’t see much of when I work nights thru the winter months.

3.    I could be a support for Clarissa today as she was going through a difficult time.

4.    Just being home! It is nice to have work, and it is nice to travel, but there is no place like home!

5.    The sounds of home! I have really enjoyed the last week experiencing the sights and sounds of things away from home, but there is just something comforting and relaxing about walking out the door at home and hearing the familiar melodious songs of the birds and occasional rib-bit of frogs.

March 21

March 21, 2011~

As we were getting close to the Nashville airport today, we needed to fill up the rental car with gas. Our phones said we only had one hour before our plane took off.  We had carefully planned out what time we needed to be to the airport so we’d make our flight home connection. We realized that if the time on our phones was correct we were in trouble, since it was only one hour before our plane would be leaving. So I got out to pump the gas while Ron went in to do what he needed to do.  When he got back in I said, “OK, let’s hightail it, but, no stressing!”  And he said, “No, we aren’t rushing.” I looked at him with a questioning look and he pulled his phone out of his pocket to show me the time. As it turned out he’d asked someone the time and then realized that for some reason when we went across the time line, our phones didn’t cross over. So he turned his off and on… wawlaw… correct time. No need to stress. Not that it would of helped us any anyway. We made it in plenty of time!

Happy For A Reason reason’s:

1.    A lovely walk along a Tennessee Creek before leaving for home.

2.    The enjoyment I had watching the birds as we walked along the creek and had a Cardinal come by to say good morning!

3.    We were on schedule and made it on time for our flight, even though our phones said otherwise! I guess it had something to do with the fact that we had not used our phones since we crossed the time zone line.

4.    We had uneventful and on time flights… well, at least until we landed at our home airport! That was the bumpiest landing I’ve ever experienced!

5.    Thankful that Judy and Jonathan were willing to bring our car to the airport so we could go straight home! Ahh…. Yes, we are home!  Home Sweet Home!