Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
Posted in Uncategorized
.
.
.
Thanks Leon for reminding me of what today is 🤭 it’s my first day of the week. I abolished Monday’s, you know 😉
😂 not for you all. Just me 😜
Today I don’t think so!
☺️
The titles in this video bring back fond memories. One of my best friends was part of the Austin City Limits production staff who brought me many great stories about the ACL performers. If you look carefully you’ll see a brief image of “Jakes” bar followed by “Huts” bar. Both of these spots were period hangouts. My favorite was Jakes, a classic working-class, homey kind of bar that welcomed everybody so long as you observed “redneck rules”. It was a wonderful place and my buddies and I spent many happy hours there. I don’t know if those kind of places exist any more but I have such fond memories of the place. In my mind, they defined Austin, Texas in that period. It was a time of pure magic. . .
Does anybody remember where Wayside Drive was in Houston???
Wayside Drive.. yes..
northeast side of Houston inside the loop off I-10..
once a small white clapboard house type suburb way back when.. now mostly industrial area.. and definitely sketchy on the streets at night..
Good morning, Texian.
Change, change…all is change. Slowly at first. Then all of a sudden.
Garrison, Harris and Crowell…mighty fine start to the morning 🥰
Good morning, Cat💓. I’ll say! Voices which work together so well. Love love her.
Good Morning Betsy ❤️
Good morning Cat ❤️!
Good Morning grandpa ❤️
Good morning Betsy! I got a little late start this morning. 💗
Good morning, G💓 While I was making a cup of coffee, you were on my mind. Wondering if you were recovering from your overloaded day yesterday. I bet you feel warm all the way through remembering the performances last night of those precious children. Going on what I felt watching ours back in the day (and I can’t believe I’m writing that…it was only “yesterday”… boy!! Time!! She certainly does fly). 😘
I think I’ve recovered Bet, PTL. Having a quieter morning, watered the garden, picked a couple of zucchini, peppers and tomatoes and generally chilling. In an hour I’m taking my bride to the dermatologist to have a skin cancer (benign) taken care off. It’s a procedure that leaves minimal to no scarring but it takes several hours. They take a chunk then look under the microscope, then take off only the cancer part until it’s all gone. The time consuming part is the prep of the tissue for the microscope.
So prayers are very much appreciated.
Then in the afternoon it’s poking Violet again. I’d like to make it early enough to be able to catch Bible study at church at 7 but it all depends on the dermatologist. 😍
Grandpa, I’ll be sending kind, encouraging, positive thoughts for you and mrs grandpa throughout the day ❤️ Please keep me posted 😘
🙂❤️, they got her started. Took the first piece off, now it’s waiting an hour for the histopathology. I think the worst part was 3 needles of sedation stuck in the nose. Now I’ll be running errands while waiting. Most of the time is sitting in the patient room and waiting.
😉
All finished and well, praise the Lord! She’s back home and I’m on my way to stick Violet with her shot.
Thank goodness!!!! And thank God!!🤗🙏
🥰
And she will have them🙏. I know an ex cop who works in our neighbourhood Walmart who had that done, and he is right as rain. She’ll be fine. I hope plenty of sedation, and the prayers will take care of the rest. They absolutely will!💖
🙂🙏🏻
Bet, see the update above to FC.
👍
Answered after your wonderful news earlier💓
Good morning, Garrison💓
When I saw this, I thought of you, and of us all really…especially when I hear music like this…
“Someone said ’30 years ago’, and my mind went ‘Ah yes!’
The 1970s, but they meant 1992, and now I need to lie down.”
Right?? (signed UT grad, 1972😉)
Hi, Betsy (hi, ‘Cat) . . . Busy day today. Just now visiting the site. Glad folks liked the Emmylou videos. That very brief shot of Jake’s sure brought back memories. It was one of “those” kinds of Bars—neon sign dark, quiet, a serious drinkin’ establishment. When you went in it felt like you’d walked back in time. It could have been 1940. If you followed the rules, they even liked hippies! Loved it.
I love her voice, Garrison..always have. Puts a big ole smile on my face when you post her. Know what you mean about those kinds of establishments, although my bar visiting days are lonnnnnng gone. Camaraderie runs deep in those places even of one doesn’t know anyone else. An evening spent in one fixes that.😉
Your are right, Bitsy. I’ve been fortunate to have friends with the same collection of friends for 5 decades now. The key is that none of us moved away. We’re like a family . . . 🙂
Thank you, GH. Gives me goose bumps!
Weird ‘ole Austin could do that. 🙂
Check out Zerohedge tonight, Garrison.
Article “Feds begin ‘Major Radiological Incident’ Drill in Austin”.
Hmmmmmm…
So glad I was done with that place yesterday.
Gosh….all this time I thought I wore the wrong deodorant!!!!
Boy oh boy….gotta love the Lord’s plan!!! ❤️
Good Morning home!!!!!!
Listened to this someplace else. I thought it was soooo good! See what you think…..
🙂 Good morning Ms Cat.
“We must mirror God’s love in the midst of a world full of hatred. We are mirrors of God’s love, so we may show Jesus by our lives.”
~~Corrie ten Books
She spoke so many lovely things, made apparent to her through her own dreadful experiences. What to choose to post today, I was contemplating.
And here is the thoughtful piece you chose, H. Hand in hand, I think.
And good morning!!💓
Boom!!! Not Books… Autocorrect is just sticking its tongue out at me now.
Meet autocorrect halfway –
Corrie ten Booms.
😂…nope! But good!
And this is why not…
Me: “I need some help around here!!”
Also Me: “No, not like that…here, I’ll do it.”
😉
Bet, are you running so fast this morning that you met yourself in the hallway? 😂
I’ll say!!!!! Posted long ago but it fits today…
“I’ve gone to look for myself. If I return while I’m away, tell me to wait right here.”
Yep…that about sums it up.😁
LOL! Yesterday it felt like that to me. I may have passed myself on 290.
😂!!! Very likely😘
17 May 1958
Connie Francis releases “Who’s Sorry Now”, a song that was first recorded by Isham Jones And His Orchestra in 1923. It also reached #4 on the Billboard charts and earned a Gold record for sales of one million copies.
17 May 1980
Paul and Linda McCartney are the guest hosts of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, where they perform their new single, “Coming Up”, a recent Billboard number one.
17 May 1981
Smokey Robinson enjoys his highest charting Billboard Top 40 solo hit when “Being With You” peaks at #2.
NATIONAL CHERRY COBBLER DAY – MAY 17
Cobblers originated in the early British American colonies. Due to the lack of suitable ingredients and proper cooking equipment, English settlers were unable to make their traditional suet puddings. They improvised by covering a stewed filling with a layer of uncooked biscuits or dumplings.
/revision/latest?cb=20141114010901
Dang!
-Link is a phone number
Pennsylvania Senate Race: I didn’t care if Oz or Barnette won. I do now. Hannity went too far. Accusing her of doing something wrong Jan 6 removed the blinders. He’s a rotten RINO. And I hope Barnette wins.
Oz was DOA here in PA. He doesn’t even live here. He is not MAGA, never was, never will be. If PDJT cannot recognize that, he’s lost his way. The argument of voting for the person who “can” win no longer works for many people who are tired of mediocre traitors. Not to mention that who is determining who “can” win? If PDJT still has the coattails bragged about, wouldn’t anyone he got behind have the best chance of winning?
Interesting perspective old school 🤔 I keep remembering what President Trump said…..I should have told them I didn’t want the wall. It would have been completed…something to that effect 🤷♀️
Good Morning old school ❤️ have a happy and blessed day 😘
Thank you Feral. Always a pleasure reading your posts. May you find yourself in God’s loving light.
oldschool, as far as PDJT goes I just read a devotional on leaders and fallibility. Granted it talks about religious leaders but I think it can be applied across the board.
I love President Trump but at the end he is only human and we all have fallen short of the glory of God.
https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/fallibility-part-two1
I share that perspective. He is human. Thank you
NATIONAL WALNUT DAY – MAY 17
The United States exports more walnuts than any other country. Ninety-nine percent of the nation’s commercial English walnuts are produced in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of California.
Always liked to turn up the volume when this song came on the radio.
Yes indeed ….
Long time ago
I used to care but things have changed
Niiiiice selection hayseed!!
😘
🥰
Good Morning hayseed!!!
Dylan was right. I remember Rubin Carter and how he had the respect of inmates and officers alike. A fine man who was served with grave injustice..imo
17 May 2012 Donna Summer [LaDonna Gaines], American disco and pop singer-songwriter (“Love to Love You, Baby”; “On The Radio”; “Last Dance”), dies from lung cancer at 63.
17 May 2013 Alan O’Day, American singer and songwriter (“Undercover Angel”; over 100 songs for the Muppet Babies), dies of brain cancer at 72.
FC: I will get out in front of this this morning as IDK if you saw my reply on the 15th posting.
Good Morning FC !
I work 2nd and 3rd shift & will be off to bed in 3 hours (6 am), may not see your post till after 4 pm today or after midnight if it is busy, never can tell and summer tourist season is coming quick (Memorial day) til the kids go back to school in August.
I will probably not have much free time to read much here but I will keep posting these musical death anniversary’s as I have got them ready to go until August 1st anyway.
Sammy was a class act, wish I could have seen him live, sadly I only knew much of him but from his TV show appearances.
Good Morning/night magic!!!
No, I didn’t see this post. I feel for you working 2nd and 3rd shift. Kinda stinks sometimes, takes you away from life happenings. I feel for you brother/sister.
That said, 1 I will try to make it a habit of rechecking previous day and 2 keep them coming I really enjoy them ❤️
Well it fits me, I have always been a night owl.
Just a guy with a business to attend to…this is year 11 total with a 3 year space in between due to the government “eminent domain” my landlord who kicked me out of my first location so he could relocate his biz there …had to start all again, such is life.
Kitchen is clean…dishes are washed ..i’m off to bed.
Goodnight all
Magic Wand…you don’t start from scratch. You start again with experience.
…said the person who hasn’t done what you had to but understands completely the unfairness of it and the frustration. Blessings to you, sir.
Certainly the experience was a plus… I know what NOT to do in this tourist town.
Magic, I just relistened to your song post of the 15th. Although, I really don’t follow Johnny cash tunes, today, this one struck a chord with me, for some unknown reason. It was nice. Thank you. I’m looking forward to all the others on your playlist… ❤️
Hope you’re having sweet dreams 😘
I have a Karaoke customer that wants to sing that on a regular basis.
Had to relearn one of Johnny’s lines in it as it had been 4-5 years since the other lady that wanted to sing it left town, as this is a hard and expensive place to earn a living, unless you are a section 8 recipient.
Loved Donna Summer’s performances. She was the Queen of Disco for sure. I recall a lot of her songs were on the radio back in the ’70s and ’80s so she obviously made the Top 40 for many years.
Ah the disco years………….. was still better music the the cRAP of nowadays.
Yep. Better by a factor of 10 at the very least.
May 17 Oswald Chambers
His Ascension and Our Access
It came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. —Luke 24:51
We have no experiences in our lives that correspond to the events in our Lord’s life after the transfiguration. From that moment forward His life was altogether substitutionary. Up to the time of the transfiguration, He had exhibited the normal, perfect life of a man. But from the transfiguration forward— Gethsemane, the Cross, the resurrection— everything is unfamiliar to us. His Cross is the door by which every member of the human race can enter into the life of God; by His resurrection He has the right to give eternal life to anyone, and by His ascension our Lord entered heaven, keeping the door open for humanity.
The transfiguration was completed on the Mount of Ascension. If Jesus had gone to heaven directly from the Mount of Transfiguration, He would have gone alone. He would have been nothing more to us than a glorious Figure. But He turned His back on the glory, and came down from the mountain to identify Himself with fallen humanity.
The ascension is the complete fulfillment of the transfiguration. Our Lord returned to His original glory, but not simply as the Son of God— He returned to His father as the Son of Man as well. There is now freedom of access for anyone straight to the very throne of God because of the ascension of the Son of Man. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ deliberately limited His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. But now they are His in absolute, full power. As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ now has all the power at the throne of God. From His ascension forward He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed.
Good morning and may the good Lord smile down upon you.
I randomly opened my prayer book this morning, and this was what met my eyes.
O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.
I say Amen…and Amen🙏
Good morning to all my friends in this beautiful place🌻
Amen 🙏
🥰
Amen!
Amen! I like it.
Good morning, parichute💓 His infinite patience, mercy, and grace. Though we all fall so short, the three greatest gifts we could ever hope or pray for with (as dearest Frank said once) “face in the dirt” humility.
I shudder when I hear these medicare supplement ads – I called to get what I deserve
Please don’t give me what I deserve
👏
Oh no kidding! In other words, what they think you derserve. And we all know what that is.
May none of us ever get what we deserve…in this life or the next.🙏
Amen (praying hands)
Good evening, Marti💓 I hope your day went well (crossed fingers😊).
Good morning everyone. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to a new day!
Cheers & God Bless!
Good Morning Levi!!! ❤️
Have a happy and blessed day, today!!!! ❤️
Morning, Levi. Any day we wake up is a good day!
Amen Betsy. If we are here then the good Lord still has purpose in us being here. To which I say, use me as you see fit.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Yes sir. And I look forward to seeing what He has planned for me today.💖
Good morning Levi! Blessings!
Good morning Gramps. Many blessings for you and yours on this fine day.
Mornin’ comrade infidels.
Good morning, WeeWeed.
-🎯
Mayday!
Mayday!
We’re going down!
Ramirez never misses…ever.
May 17
MORNING
I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them. Ezek. 20:19
As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. I Peter 1:15
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. I John 2:6, 29
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. I Cor. 7:19
Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. II Cor. 3:5
Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes. Psa. 119:33
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:12, 13
The God of peace…. make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ. Heb. 20, 21
J. Bagster
Beautiful polyeemea 🥰
Good Morning and have a blessed day ❤️
Amen.
PS – love your blog name. We are each one of God’s Masterful Creations….
Words to live by
🥰 👍
Letting the cat out of the bag, hmmm… 🤔😻
No chance shell get back in!😁
💡 hey!!!! I was loving the words to live by!!! Naughty naughty 😂 he’s cute to some, I’m sure. No offense meant, but it would take a giant good hearted man to keep me interested, just not this one 😉
I wasn’t talking about him, Cat!! I was referring to that truth about letting the cat out of the bag!!😂
Ooopps….slinking back to my forest 🌳. Humans very complicated 🙃
😂
I thought so. 🙂
😁
Good ole common sense, one of the most valuable commodities anyone can have. Superb.
Wish we could bottle it and sell it. There are millions in need of this elixir. Myself included on occasions.
Amen sister! The sense that lacks the most.
Th one I keep telling my children and the grands, you’ll never go wrong by doing what’s right.
How lucky are they for having you in their lives, G?? Very, I’d say💖 Simple truth. You are so right.
We had some good conversation with our grandlads yesterday on this. They were listening as usual. I asked them what was the worst and best part of their jobs as food industry employees, the first but not last job they will ever hold. Good thoughtful answers from both.
Out of the blue, one said with forcefulness that his appreciation for people who work in that job had magnified a thousand fold.
I should say through our early and often teaching that they’ve always had respect for those whose job it is to serve others in that industry. We started on this project when they were about 5 when we’d go out for a sit down meal.
After we’d finished, we would gather our empty plates and cutlery and position them so that there would be ease of cleaning by the staff. Any dropped food on the table was put back on the plates. So they learned early on that they themselves are not the center of the universe, and that there are so many more who live in it as well.
At any rate, nothing makes a point more than experience. I believe all teens should have to work in the food service industry as a first job. And yes, I know that’s my own little dream. But if they did, perhaps the world would be a much kinder place. Loads of lessons to be gained from it.😉
Your grands are fortunate to have you, Bet. And yes, all teens should have a job, if not in the food industry then having to do with interacting with a public.
Working for 40 years with the public taught me to be very appreciative of the people serving me and made me have very little tolerance for people that mistreated the girls at the reception in our business just because they couldn’t answer back.
I wish my lads could have a boss like you, G. I know you were a peach to work for. I always think employees will work harder for a boss who treats them as the human beings they are.
However I did tell them they were responsible for the job they put in, no matter who was their supervisor. They get it.
Well , I don’t know Bet, I was in the kind of work that you just couldn’t make mistakes in certain areas. So I had to make sure that things got done right. But as far as a client mistreating them or starting dropping F bombs on them was not tolerated.
And that’s what I’m talking about! Standing up for them says everything.
Hands up all who worked for GrandpaM who thought he was the best boss EVER!!
(Counting….1..2,3…4,5,6….7…………..)
Yep every single hand is up!!! I knew it!! 😘
You are so kind. I got a text recently from one of the newer once that said, “we miss you.”
My reply was, “I miss y’all, too but I am not coming back to work.” 🤣
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
Christ is risen!
Truly He is risen!
Indeed, He is Risen!
Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life. (sung thrice)
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
Amen!
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
From Small Compline
Rejoice Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls. (Thrice)
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
Verse of the Day for Tuesday, May 17, 2022
✟
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
BE MY VOICE
BABY LIVES MATTER
mornin’ Treepers
Glory to God for all things
Amen, Lonestar. Good morning💖
Morning Lonestar! El Cavod, the God of Glory!
Say it Loud
Say it PROUD
Dzien Dobry (good morning)
Dzien Dobry Ms Idaho!!
Betsy’s autocorrect is giving her difficulties today. Hence, the polish. 😝
Response to Betsy and Feral Cat’s posts last night
“Happiness is a state of mind”
More than that, it is a choice.
Each of us regular posters (the lurkers, too), have burdens that leave us with lots of depression and tears. As they say, it’s hard to keep your sunny side up
Problem is, since we all have our own rows to hoe, most other people really don’t care. They’re busy with their own miseries.
Thus you might as well smile and go looking for the good things in life.
We know God put them there for us – we just have to find them.
PS – I don’t claim to be good at this – but I must keep on trying
Good morning, ms idaho.
What I posted last night was a lovely little meme I found. But it was late and after a long day, I, alas, didn’t have the wit or the energy to add this…
I wish that that meme maker has not used the word “happiness”. My choice would have been ” joy” for that particular picture, because that was what it was. There is a difference.
And yes, such as happiness is, it is a choice. But I’ve come to realize that happiness, a lovely thing, is fleeting. When I find myself wishing sustaining gifts for our grands, happiness is not amongst them, although I do pray they will have many of those moments.
I hope for them an abiding faith in Jesus Christ, wisdom, discernment, peace within themselves, and contentment. Those are in my thinking paramount. From those five (but not only five) will naturally come those moments of happiness I feel. Just a glimpse into one grandmother’s hopes for her beloved grandchildren.
I pray for you and Doc all the blessings God can send, ms idaho. And of course that you’ll both feel His presence every waking moment. Thank you for responding. Contrary to what you think, I believe you are VERY good at this. B
Betsy – trying to formulate an answer to your great response.
You seem to view ‘happiness’ as a fleeting thing. It’s like the problems with so many words – they mean different things to different people – even those living side by side. The old married couple ‘joke’. He said Good Morning. What did he mean?
First thing I did was search for ‘the opposite of the blues’ – cause Garrison and others post lots of Blues videos. There must be over 30 words to express ‘extreme happiness’, and joy is there. There are more words, all trying to capture an ephemeral moment in time.
Songs came to mind. ‘leave your worries on the doorstep, just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street. Again, a choice.
This from Noel Coward -Hey Ho if love were all. This one sustained me during my BJ years (before John) – and I hope it has meaning for you, Feral Cat, as you face your new future..
(Chorus)
I believe in doing what I can
In crying when I must
In laughing when I choose
Hey ho, if love were all
I should be lonely
I believe the more you love a man
The more you give your trust
The more you’re bound to lose
Although when shadows fall
I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me
Someone affectionate and dear
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near
But I believe that since my life began
The most I’ve had is just
A talent to amuse
Hey ho, if love were all
And the most difficult of all – learning to make lemonaide when life throws you lemons.
Well, kites don’t fly without wind
Sail boats do not ‘sail’ without wind.
I don’t presume to speak for God, but it sure seems we are given ‘wind’ that must be overcome. And we darn sure better do it with as much grit and grace as we can muster.
I have the most amazing brother. He is a year and a half younger. He was born with spina bifida and 2 club feet. Mom told stories of feeding him whiskey and both of them crying as she massaged his feet to a forward position.
When he had his growth spurt one leg did not ‘grow’. He declined having the good leg pegged so they would be equal. As the years went on, his ankle ‘failed’. He tried a number of solutions, and now just ‘walks’ on his ankle.
He lives with an unimaginable amount of pain. How he does it I do not know. About 15 years ago he had his first eye bleed. Along the way the doc had to re attach his retina. He can ‘see’, sort of. Whatever his peripheral vision responds to light.
His attitude is “it is what it is’.
My problems shrink in contrast.
Doc says in his experience people like him don’t live as long as he has lived.
My mom built his foundation (with help from her mom). At the age of 40, after 20 years of being someone’s secretary, and in competition with younger brains, mom became a chiropractor and had a focus on nutrition. That helped brother alot- he’s really in good shape for the shape he’s in. And it was years before Doc and I met.
I’m not saying happiness is the destination – it is more like the ride, the journey, the path chosen.
Each of us makes our choice of paths. Some are bordered with lovely flowers. Some with thorns. Some with water, some with heavenly sunrises and sunsets.
In my mind it is close to the song ‘Perhaps Love’ which I posted a link to a few days back.
My convulsive contusion is that it is easy to wallow in despair. Why me? God? On the world stage it is easy to be very afraid (as we are intended to be). It is easy to convince ourselves things have never been as bad as they are right now.
What is hard – REALLY hard – is to find the gems in life hidden (by God) for us to find and use to help others and ourselves. Use any words you like to describe what you choose to do and how you choose to do it. When you smile thru your tears and sorrow you change your outlook on life and cheer up those around you.
As I said, how you face life is a choice given to you.
I can’t end without referencing a post from the other day re: footsteps in the sand. You remember – Lord, part of the time we were walking together there was only one set of footprints. ‘That’s when I was carrying you’.
Goosebumps anyone?
Goosebumps, happy tears of release and a big big hug for my friend, ms Idaho. ❤️ 💋
Thank you for that most thoughtful and wondrous reply. I think you and I are on the same page with this. We phrase things differently but we are of like minds here I believe.
Your brother’s story reminds me of two I can tell you. Yesterday my husband showed me a short video of a little boy of about three. A little blonde cherub with spins bifida. Someone had built for him a bespoke piece he sits in and can move wherever he wants to go. It was clear that the video was taken on his first outing. And he was so so happy. Yes, I will use that specific word. If Happiness had a face,this was it. Back and forth he was moving, and it was plain to see he was in that joyous space where for the moment his concert wish had been granted.
And I thought like you with your brother. Others’ problems do give us perspective. Much needed sometimes. And bless, I understand his attitude more than you can know…because…
My husband’s two sons both had muscular dystrophy. Both endured, as your brother does, more physical pain and trials than seems fair. Both smart with incredible brains who were very involved with computers long before they became mainstream, if I can put it like that. Grew up with them from the computer’s “infancy”… and both knew each every day their lives on this earth would be shortened because of their situation. Both have now died. The youngest was well known in computer circles and still has a website up that he developed. Many use it.
They got on with their lives as best they could as they lost more of their muscle strength. Like your brother, they made their own lemonade as well. Long after their passing, I saw a memorial sculpture for the grave of another child who had MD. His father had commissioned it.
It was so beautiful. The sculptor had carved this lad rising from a wheelchair, one foot on the foot rest. He was reaching upward toward the heavens, arms outstretched, and somehow this most wonderful sculptor had managed to put absolute joy into the expression, free from his earthly constraints. When I look at that (because I have saved the picture of it) I am happy that my husband’s lads are now pain- and physically free. He is as well, though, he still struggles with the question why they had to endure so much.
So I understand your whole beautiful post. Casco Bay Boy deserves the hat tip for that lovely poem. I’m so sure down the core of my being that God stays with us during our travails. And since He is a loving God, I am equally certain He doesn’t leave us to muck through on our own, and does give us those moments when we can know happiness, be it for a moment or longer.
So yes, no matter what trials we are given, we all must (I must!) search for those moments because He puts them there. I believe that’s a part of His unending mercy and grace.
I have gone on long enough I think. I loved Coward. He was quite the composer and lyric writer. Not a bad actor either. We will not see his likes again, though he left us plenty to enjoy.
My mother always said to me when I was a teenager, of I ever started to feel self pity, look around. There were many, many people in worse shape than I. She was and still is so right. And my prayer focus has become for those who are, every single night.
Please accept my genuine expression, ms idaho, that you are one remarkable lady, as was your mother before you. I feel fortunate that our paths crossed here. And I will continue to offer my prayers for you and Doc and now your brother, all of whom are without doubt being carried by Christ. And also that those God given moments of happiness will flow unremittingly amongst all of you. 😘Bet.
Betsy – yes, of course we are on the same page 🙂
Brother refuses a wheel chair – but most with these kinds of neurologic problems can’t get around any other way. Brother has bowed to the need for a walker.
That memorial sculpture sounds incredible. That same ‘slip the surly bonds of earth’ concept is why the poem ‘to fly’ always draws me so.
And it is why, other than (selfishly) missing a loved one, I am always glad they get to leave life’s trials, tribulations and pains behind. Like our dogs and dear pets, they are paving the way and waiting for us –
A short story back at’cha. We had mom in a care facility (yes, its been 10 years). She kept telling the folks she wanted to go be with her mom. They kept telling her ‘your mom isn’t in Detroit anymore’. Well, mom knew that. Didn’t change her desire…. Mom did NOT want to be 90. She died 1 month sort.
Like Robin Williams and other really funny comedians, mom made lots of people laugh. There was too much tragedy in her life not to look for ways to make it easier to bear.
I promise to be more uplifting – ‘nuf said about what is difficult.
Lets keep finding sand to throw in whatever gears we can find
As we know, there is no better place to perch than a branch at the Sundance Treehouse
😊 Be uplifting when you feel like it. Don’t be when it becomes too much. That’s why we are here. Gives us a chance to be the ones to lift you up. We’re pretty good at that I like to think.
Again, I give you my favourite CS Lewis quote which is as true and releasing as any I’ve ever read.
“All this trying leads up to that moment at which you turn to God and say, “You must do this. I can’t. ”
I mistakenly attributed it to GK Chesterton on another thread, so I correct myself here. Mea culpa.
Why I find so much comfort in that one of his I can’t explain except to say that (for me) he tells me that when we have no more inner strength to face what we cannot avoid or change, we have a soft and secure place to fall… knowing with certainty that He will take over from there. Which gives me a real peace. The one that passeth all understanding. 🙏🤗
Also… Regarding your mother’s wanting to be with her mother. My father in law who lived in Britain died in a grotesque National Health Service hospital. The “care” he received when he developed pneumonia was abysmal and nonexistent. Socialized medicine at its very worst. He was fit for his age, but his wife had died years before and we know inwardly he never recovered from that loss.
It is my husband’s and my belief that he gave up, wanting to be with her again. No proof, just a real feeling that it was so. The expression on his face told us it was.
I also firmly believe the truth of that.
each of you – separately and all together – are truly special.
I do have to respond to one part of your post, tho. I never ask God for anything. You do, often and with feeling, I know.
I simply pray for others and thank Him profusely for my many blessings. I feel that I am given what I need, not what I want. I have to work for and earn what I think I want. Life has taught me that I don’t always want what is good for (or best for) me. Shades of the ol ‘there is only one thing worse than really wanting something – getting it!
A long time ago I was in a class that challenged us to write down 100 things we would be happy ‘if only’. Believe me, I was a dreadfully unhappy person at the time. I was hard pressed to list 100 – including every book I wanted to read, every movie, trip – whatever. Of course, none of them had anything to do with being happy – which was the point.
Worse than that, my happiness does not come from another person. Spouses mistakenly think they would be happy if hubby picked up his dirty clothes (for instance) No. Either you love ’em, warts and all, or you don’t love ’em.
My early years in the Catholic Church left me dissatisfied (a la Mungrel) and I am determined to be content with my circumstances. Not as good as some, not as bad as many.
I will not ask God for anything I am unwilling or unable to do for myself. When I can’t do for myself (and Doc) anymore I hope I am standing in judgement for the life I’ve lived.
If I am being carried it is not because I felt I needed to be, but because I became unable…
Yes I do…and like you for others…always others. I’m struggling to think…and I cannot think of any prayer I’ve posted asking anything for myself except for a strengthening of faith perhaps. But never something concrete.
For myself, I ask only Thy will be done, no matter what that means. Or in private for His presence in my life.
Interesting exercise. And in all honesty, I believe coming up with 100 would be impossible for anyone. Because one is then not focused on the actual things to be happy for but rather how many more must I come up with to meet 100. Focused on the number rather than the substance. But I do take your point. Sometimes at various times in our lives, life simply overwhelms. I’ve been there when my situation obscured everything else good. I speak for myself here.
Looking back, I can see I was merely on a path He put me on, and I needed to go through the brambles to end in the place I feel I was meant to be. And I know the road keeps going and that I am stopping only for a little while. Robert Frost comes to mind.
The destination is ahead for us all where there is no more pain, no more tears. Until then? Onward as best we can manage in hopes of it. Whenever it may be.B🙏
so, I guessed right – you don’t ask for things for yourself – except for the strength to follow ‘thy will be done’.
re the 100 wishes – I think I wrote 70 some – including job and future mate wishes. For many years I carried it with me and crossed things off as they were done. Don’t remember adding any – memory…. And don’t remember if I crossed them all off before discarding.
In retrospect it is an interesting exercise for really unhappy souls who think they would be happy ‘if only’.
It helps you (me) focus on defining happiness, and banishing unhappiness. Suggest it to some folks and see what kind of response you get. Its not for you because you are one of those few souls secure in your own space under God’s tutelage
hah
ps – there really are no limits to the list – except it has to be for the writer (not needing help or approval of anyone else), and it should be possible. For instance, at 80 a desire for me to climb Mt Everest is not legit – tho a movie about folks climbing might be fun
The list is personal, not subject to review by anyone – if you put down dumb stuff you are only cheating yourself.
all these years later, the message is still around:
I’d Be Happy If Only . . . | Your Happiness Power
The grass may look greener over that fence. Most times it isn’t. Thank you for that link
And making a person think about all the things in their lives that they can be grateful for when, for whatever reason, they be unable to see any. Redirecting the focus from the unhappiness, despair, distress etc. That aspect flew over my head for the moment .
And bless, ms idaho. There are times when I should do exactly that. They come to us all.
And as you mentioned praying for others, I was doing some reading and found this, which seemed appropriate for our conversation today.
From Corrie ten Boom…
“I prayed to dispel my fear, until suddenly, and I do not know how the idea came to me, I began praying for others. I prayed for everyone who came into my thoughts~~people with whom I had traveled, those who had been in prison with me, my school friends of years ago. I do not know how long I continued my prayer, but this I do know~~my fear was gone! Interceding for others had released me.”
I thought it might be worth ending with that. 💓B
☺️ your words were just what I needed today 😘
I reiterate I care about you all. Don’t ever think no one cares or loves you. I volunteer, anytime, anyplace to hold your hand in prayers to our Lord ❤️
ms idaho. I second Cat. Here on our branch of the CTH we do care about each other. There is no distance too big for prayer. And it can be offered anytime, any place. Blessings to you and Doc.
Unlike George Carlin’s Big Club that none of us is in, this place is a Big Church. And we are all in it, each supporting the other.
Glory and thanks be to God🙏
Amen! I’d rather be a member of the Big Church any day! 🙏
Got to head to the dermatologist office soon.
Will see you when you’re back, G. 🙏🙏🙏
Oh, Grandpa, your prayers and caring fly above all possible definitions of time and space.
In the past I wrote about a book “The Dancing Wu-Li Masters’. It was a fun, understandable read on physics.
One takeaway from studies – when they split a proton and sent it in opposite directions, when they affected the spin of one part, it affected the spin of the other part. In other words, action at a distance.
What this meant to me is ‘thoughts are things. More importantly, prayers are things.
Tell me that comes as no surprise to you
🙂
🙏🏻😍
Thank you ms Idaho for the reminder. Some days it is very difficult to find that lost smile. We must keep on trying and looking for the good things in life. You put a big smile on my face this evening with this post. Bless you. (smiley face and heart)
Black Box Data Reportedly Suggest China Eastern Jet Crash Was Intentional
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/05/17/black-box-data-reportedly-suggest-china-eastern-jet-crash-was-intentional/amp/
BLOCK THE “PANDEMIC TREATY”
Another U.N./globalist/World Economic Forum power grab is underway, using the pretext of the W.H.O. and … wait for it … pandemics.
Call, email, your Senators to block Team Biden from giving the W.H.O. power to intrude into America under the pretext of “health care.”
Team Biden wants to sneak an amended treaty into place. No Senate debate, review or ratification. Illegal and un-Constitutional, as usual.
Here is a good summary of the proposed “treaty amendments”:
#StopTheTreaty – ( if its still there , a goo rapid info. dump on the mess )
Two Skokie runs back to back. Thus no posting. The idiot drivers in Chicago were out in full force today and so were the cops. Thankfully I don’t do it tomorrow. But I am first on call if someone calls off their run.
Grilled porkchops, escalloped potatoes, pork Stove Top stuffing, and Harvard beets for dinner and my belly if full. First good meal I have had since Sunday. My belly is full and I feel a food coma coming on.
Filled my pickup truck up on the way to work this morning. Regular, 22 gallons, $102.00. Makes me wonder how those that commute 50 miles or more each day for work are liking it. BTW, the pump I filled up at had the Biden “I did that!” sticker on it!
Hope you all have had a wonderful day.
Welcome home, noble warrior😊
” My concern is not so much ‘them’ going to prison …… it’s the trust in the system …. broken forever .. as a result of ZERO accountability ”
Sundance , Admins….. Author +Navy Intel. man William Cooper said on one of his radio broadcasts the goal of these N.W.O. swine , was to so wreck and undermine FAITH in the system that the ” Mob ” the sea of people would say — ” DOWN with the system .. give us something else ! ” — Gladly ending The Constitution for a promise of ‘ safety ‘ in a world government.
Every day he is proven correct by a greater margin. Treepers all , study this mans work , for it IS the Rosetta Stone of the plans that ” They ” will try to foist upon us all.
His book is called – ‘ BEHOLD A PALE HORSE ‘ and with good reason.
pp. 406
pp. 368
pp. 443-444-445
Amen
Amen 🙏
Amen.
Amen
When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure and fresh and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.
Amen!
Amen.
Amen.