Speaking of phone books … Do you use yours?  Hubby is so attached to phone books.  Well, books, period.  He doesn’t want a Kindle anytime soon.  Me on the other hand, would LOVE one.  The one thing I really can’t stand on the counter in our kitchen is a phone book.  So he knows to put it away or it gets thrown out.  As for me, I’d rather look it up online.  Lazy?  Maybe, but have you noticed looking for a number in a phone book can be a bit aggravating.  You look under one section, then it tells you to go to another section.  Once you get there, you’re referred to yet, another.  If I want to do so much flipping through pages to get my information, I’d rather be doing a bible study!!

Speaking of bible studies … lol … I’m being an assistant table leader flake, this semester.  Right S4F? Actually I have her blessing to be a flake.  We’ll see how it goes.

Speaking of flake … the mountains actually got some.  Well quite a bit from what I understand.  I’ve looked out the window and my area is without snow, but there was quite a bit of rain.  The mountains are still covered with low lying clouds which obscures the mountainous view.  It’s always a pleasant surprise when the clouds lift revealing the majestic scene.

Speaking of covering … hah … there are several directions I could go with this.  Now to think which one is safer.  Do you let your dog sleep on the bed?  We do … or … I do.  It depends.   He’ll sleep under the covers between us until he gets too hot.  When his little body overheats, he breaches the covers, like a whale to lay on top of the covers panting.  Meanwhile hubby and I are freezing as the dog’s weighed down the covers by his 15 pounds of dead weight.  How is this possible?  I know little toddies will go limp and become dead weight when they don’t want to go where their parents want.  But how does a dog do that?  How does a dog know how to do that?  I think our Jack Russell terrorist is more person & cat, then a dog.  Rut Roh … I said the “t” word … should I be looking over my shoulder?

Speaking of shoulder … hah … gotcha!

This weather is going to be a challenge on my health, (why is this a surprise?).  One day it’s in the 40′s, next it’s in the single digits, then back to the 40′s.  Because of this weather change, we are sick, yet again!  At least hubby and I are sick at the same time and started antibiotics today.  That’s a good thing, so hopefully we can get this done and over with and not keep passing it back and forth to each other.  That makes for a long winter when we take turns being sick!

The bad thing about being sick is that I’ve now missed 3 days of work.  I’m very thankful I have a grace filled employer.   As our lead pastor says, “When it comes to the Pony Express, you take care of the ponies, otherwise, there would be no mail!”  So he is trying to change the culture, people first, tasks second.  I love my job and my fellow staff members!!

We’ve had several deaths this week, people I know, but don’t know well.  I’m sad for the family and friends left behind.  However, as they were believers, I can see them dancing on streets of gold in new bodies.

Fire season is supposed to be done, however … it’s been so dry in addition to cold, so the timbers are primed.  Unfortunately a fire broke out in our region.  I’ve enclosed the link to the paper.  Amazing and very heart breaking pictures are in this article.

Well, the heavy duty cough syrup has hit, so I’ll sign off.  Y’all have a great weekend and stay safe out there!!

Everyone is complaining that there is no snow.  But it is so beautiful outside.  It’s cold, but beautiful!  I know we are starting to need the moisture, but I’m just enjoying what we have, because soon enough we’ll be complaining about the white stuff!

So all is good here at the base of the Sierras.  Body still gives me problems, but as long as I rest it works.  So, one day at a time is how I have to live – as I never know when my body will be rebelling.

Y’all have a great hump day and down slide to the weekend.  Talk at you later.

Three services tonight then we will be off until Tuesday.  I’ve been asked what I’m doing on Christmas Day … I’ve said sleeping!  Hubby surprised me and put up the little Christmas Tree we got from our neighbor.  I wanted to take this tree back to her this year, but he put it up.  The little one we bought is even smaller than the one he put up.  He was going to get a string of small lights and said all that was left were white lights.  I stepped on his air hose (Love & Respect saying) and told him that I like the white lights … *sigh* … hah … leave it to me !

As I don’t have nice clothes to wear to the last three official Christmas Eve Services, we went shopping on Thursday night.  I didn’t go out of control, as we shopped at Wallyworld but I did get a few things.  I told him, that was my Christmas Present!  Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten him anything, so I guess we’ll wait and see.  Of course he wants that Cuisinart dual grill, which I just might suck it up and get it!

Well, I guess I’ll go find something to eat.  Y’all have a great Christmas and stay safe!!

Well, just came in for a quick hello – y’all take care and if I don’t stop in before Sunday, you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!

Now dance … oh yeah … If I have something on the stereo with a good beat … you bet I’d be … Dancin` and singin` and movin` to the groovin`And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till you die

Sorry, I started hearing the plunking guitar on a pedal and the sound and the lyrics and I was bustin’ a move … all of it in my head … unfortunately, I can’t bust a move like I used to, as my move is busted … but I still do try, every now and again.  I guess I should try and start warming up my move as my son is getting married in September … and I definitely want to be movin’ on the dance floor.  Gotta dance with my grandbabies!!

So, do you sing or dance when you are home alone?  If you do, what do you sing and dance to?

Last night was the Parade of Lights in our little town. We didn’t go.  I spent a couple of hours working on the fallen leaves in the backyard and it took the rest of the day to recover.  Plus it was very cold and I could not get warm last night.  I could hear them, but the show in front of our house was interesting.  People didn’t realize that our street was closed during this time.  So they would drive by our house, then see the barrier and have to figure out how to turn around with parked cars on both sides of the street and impatient people behind them.  Demolition Derby was coming to mind.  I don’t know why they don’t put up a sign one street above, notifying them that the street is closed.  That would make so much more sense.

Unfortunately I don’t have all the leaves done.  The hopper was full, even with stomping them down.  I probably could have made a little more room, however, my neighbor came home … yes, that one …. and I didn’t want to listen to her drama de jour.  So I quickly pulled the heavy hopper out of the yard and back in its place then took off my boots, so I could walk through the back door.  I didn’t make it in time as she was taking her trash out … thankfully, I was half way in the house and only said hi while closing the screen.

Hubby is so funny.  I got a gift of cookie fixings, we just need to add butter, eggs & vanilla.  So he took the butter out last night and would check it every 10 minutes to see if it was soft yet.  Well, considering the house is set at 60 degrees, it would take awhile.  So he’ll probably tackle it today.

Speaking of hubby, the Vikings and Broncos are playing today.  He’s still sleeping … I’m amazed that at present the Vikings are ahead.   But … it’s still early in the game yet.  So after a quick check of the score, I’ll switch it back to NCIS.  Well, let’s see, after the 2nd quarter is over.  Well, that was interesting.  15 to 7, Vikings.  Maybe he should stay asleep … LOL!

Well, it’s that time to get ready … ugh!  Y’all have a great rest of the weekend.  What I was stopping in to talk about, I’ve already forgotten.  This getting old crap is for the birds!!

I know I get blue-zie around the Holidays, but I don’t think I would do that.  But it’s hard to know where someone is … when they are in a dark place.  On the outside they may pretend to be fine … however on the inside, is a whole different story.

It is a selfish act, beside a sinful act … I just feel for my nephew and his friend’s family.  The devastation they all are feeling in the aftermath of this tragedy is unthinkable.  It’s real hard to wrap my head around it.

Being a Christian and knowing God is a loving and just God, what does it say in the bible about suicide?  I had to research it.  I found this website. 

If any of you are contemplating suicide, please know you are God’s child and He loves you very much!  No matter where you are in your struggle or storm, God is right there with you, all  you need to do is reach out to Him.

For those of you that are having to deal with the aftermath of the loss of a loved one, my heart goes out to you.  Please seek a biblical counselor to help you get through the pain of a tragedy like this.

I welcome your comments.

As we are without family nearby, one of the church volunteers is having us over for Lu-inner … we’re gonna eat around 2-ish.  Also one of our neighbors asked us over for dinner or to hang out.  I think we are going there to hang out.

Our church is not a mega church, but last weekend there were approximately 1100 people throughout the whole weekend (3 services).  So trying to care for and know everyone, is difficult.  One of the things our church has been stressing is becoming a part of a small group.  Through a small group, one can grow spiritually, relationally and have a support system.   When one person in the small group is hurting, the other members are there.

Within the past few months, we thought some of our neighbors went to our church, but we didn’t know for sure.  As only God can orchestrate, when you allow Him, He kept making our paths cross, without even knowing they were our neighbors.  Once we all figured it out, one couple had said they’d been wanting to start a small group in our neighborhood.  We finally got together for the meet and greet.  We all felt comfortable with each other and decided to continue twice a month.  It not only gives us a chance to get to know our neighbors, but to have a sense of community.  Something this day and age seem to lack.

When we lived in Las Vegas, we didn’t know our neighbors.  We knew them by site, maybe their first name, but mostly by site and would wave as we were coming & going.  When we moved to Nebraska, we still didn’t know our neighbors.  Those we saw, we’d wave hi and bye.  Now that we’ve moved to our little neighborhood and have been here for a couple of years … we know the 3 neighbors on our block.  One a little too well … yes, the one that I’ve referred to in previous posts as “That Neighbor.”  Hubby would talk to the guys on our block, but we really didn’t know what they were all about.

As we’ve just started our small group, we now know there are more of us in the neighborhood that go to our church.  We now know that we can call each other, no matter what.  Most of the members in the small group live on my street.  There is one couple that live on the street over.  It’s pretty cool as we don’t just watch out for each other, but also the neighborhood.  Definitely a better sense of community!