Some family news flashes

Our daughter, MS, turned 33 last Sunday. Her brother surprised her and took her out for lunch. Her mom and dad sent her flowers.

The next day our oldest grandson, EPF, turned 11. (He'll be a teenager before you know it.) Happy Birthday, you two.

I've started walking again for exercise - even take the (old, half-blind) dog with me sometimes. My blood pressure has gone up (used to always be good). I've put back on the weight I lost last year. :-( And Mike thinks I should be check for sleep apnea. So I need to do something about this!

MS was here a couple of weeks ago for a 1-week visit. It was good to have her here, but I do think she was a little bored.

MG and I attended a Pastor's conference last week (evenings) in Okla. The messages were really good. (The suppers were, too.)It was tiring to work all day and travel 3 hours round trip each night but it was worth it.

I took my old, worn out, rusty bike in to be fixed. I found out it was worth something because of it's antique value!! He told me NOT to paint it. Not sure what I'm going to do.

I applied for a job in another library that was a "perfect" fit with my experience. It was based on having a degree and pays much better than I'm getting now. But I didn't get it. So I'll stay where I'm at for the time being.

I thought about posting my opinion here about the current state of affairs of our country. But I'm so disgusted with this president that I'm not even going to waste my breath doing it. I didn't think anyone could top Clinton. But he was corrupt morally. This president is corrupt, - well I was going to say mentally, but 'philosophically' is less cruel and probably more accurate. He said he'd bring change; folks said they wanted change. It proves the axium - be careful what you ask for - you might get it... We're getting change alright. Its disgusting.

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New Printer

Last Friday eve. I bought a new printer. YEAH! I have been without one for almost a year - since before we moved. - Long story. But I am so glad to finally have one again. It's amazing how dependent we get on something, and how hampered we are without once we've had it.

I bought an Epson Workforce 600 for about $150. (on sale). I almost bought a more expensive one because it has 5 color cartridges instead of 3. But I decided - for what I do, this will work just fine. A few days later, when I was at work (library) someone came in wanting to know how something had been rated. (don't remember now what), so, later, I looked up printers too. It stated that an Epson printer was in the top 6 best rated printers. I couldn't remember for sure which one it was I had bought. But when I got home I looked at the box - and sure enough - I had bought that Epson that was rated one of the best. PTL I made the right decision. This one was rated better than the more expensive one. So a high(er) price doesn't always mean high(er) quality.

Death of a pop star

Our world and the media has gone mad over the death of an entertainer, who died yesterday. On CNN alone, I counted 157 videos on their website and only about 7 were not about the death, the music, the life of Michael Jackson and the reaction of people around the world.

To me this is a good example of someone who looked every where for happiness and never found it: Music, Fame, Looks, Money, Sex, Drugs. You name it. He tried it. He looked everywhere but to Jesus Christ. Someone once said we have a God shaped hole in our heart and nothing but Him will fill the hole. Anything else will leave gaps still empty.

His death also shows the shallowness of our world and our country. We have lost our moorings. Scripture talked about how Israel went whoring after idols. We are no different today then Israel was then. I am sorry that a soul has gone out into eternity without any indication of belonging to Christ. But he was certainly not my idol. Pop or otherwise.

Liberal media and censorship/Murder in Little Rock

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An American citizen-turned-muslim shot and killed an American soldier in Little Rock, Arkansas recently because we have soldiers in Iraq killing muslims over there.
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The news media however squelched the story because Obama was on his way to visit muslim countries and "we" didn't want to offend any of them.
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This is a 2-fold outrage:
1. The belief that killing one man here was going to have any effect on those over in Iraq, (just because of your beliefs.) That's not even logical thinking. That's like saying I'm going to pour water over this person here because that person over there needs a bath. Yea, lotta good that will do.
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2.The news media censoring the story because it might offend foreigners that our President was visiting.
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What about those of us who are offended over here this situation for doing that? (Also for our President bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia. I'd like to see Queen Elizabeth do that!!!)
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What about standing up for our own values and our own country?
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What about being enraged over someone committing murder? Even the recent killing of the abortion doctor in Wichita is still murder!
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This is not a muslim country! Why are we cow-towing to them?
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We are so concerned about being so politically correct that we are blinded to real values and truths, especially biblical ones. If you have read this want to know what I really think, write and ask me. (!)
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Class was a dud

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Earlier this week the library asked me to teach a class today on MSPublisher as I was now the only there that knew how since someone else left. So I worked a half day yesterday so I could work half day today. Well, 4 people were signed up - but none of them showed up! Oh Well - maybe they will next time. It was a nice break from cataloging, to prepare for the class. How many people can be paid at work to make a garage sale flyer!

Since I worked half days (mornings) I had the rest of the days off. So that wasn't too bad really. I took naps both afternoon. Guess I'm still resting up from the conference I went to, Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Celebrating a momentous birthday

Tuesday was my birthday and it was for one of those signifcant double digit changes. It has been celebrated in some unusual ways. I'm at a chrisitan librarians' conference; we went to hear Shoji Tabushi last night in Branson, MO; I've had cards and emails and good wishes on facebook from 'everywhere'; one of my kids even tried to make me feel younger by deducting 10 years off my age!!! I even got my nails done as a birthday present to me. I met a Vietnamese gal and left a christian witness. Guess it was worth the $25!!!

Barbershop singing

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I sang in a barbershop quartet today in the middle of a parking lot!!! Well sorta! There was an International Festival in town today. One of the booths was for the Pride of the Ozarks Barbershop Quartette. (sp?) We "sang" My Wild Irish Rose. Well I hummed as much as I said the words!! The 3 men sang melody, baritone and bass and knew all the words!!! I sang tenor! Well, I tried to anyway. It was fun.

Sayings:

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Life is what happens when you're making other plans.
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Sayings:

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No decision is a "no" decision - about Christ, or anything!
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Sayings:

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Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?

Church sign in Rogers, Arkansas