Autmn and I left the house at 8am and got Kathy and Sarah; then headed to Camp Christian for Ladies Retreat. It was a beautiful day and the ride up is always breathtaking – the views are wonderful. Hempfield provided the praise team, with Patty Buschek playing the piano, Tonia, Dianne, and Regina singing (Dianne and Regina on guitars). Di even wrote a song to share for the occasion, which was really cute but meaningful.
The theme was ‘Choose Joy’ – which is not as easy to do as it seems. We have already been given joy (it’s a fruit of the spirit, after all), and we just have to embrace it.
Autmn was a social butterfly, and flitted around talking to everyone and sharing in the conversations. I snapped a photo of her with Aunt ‘Cordelia’, and then a selfie with the two of us. We were to pick smiley faces with a ‘joy’ scripture on the back. Everyone was looking through them to find their favorite. I picked mine, then went and found Autmn and sent her to go pick hers. When she sat down beside me and showed me what she chose, we laughed. We both picked the same scripture without knowing it! That was a fun moment!
Lynn Pelc was one of the people giving introductions, instructions, and information. It is always good to see Lynn – a very long-time friend!
Kathy and Sarah gave a workshop about joy-stealers, Ashly Staley gave one on praying through the Psalms, and the main speaker was Kristi Spencer. I didn’t know Kristi well, but I have known her husband and 4 step-children for a very, very long time. She had an amazing testimony to share and it was very inspiring. One of the MANY things she shared was that when things happen, it’s not all about ‘me’. Ask God how he wants to use the situation to produce fruit in you and in others. I took lots of notes!
I dropped Kathy and Sarah off at Kathy’s, then took Autmn to work in White Oak. I was paid for my ‘services’ in two tacos (She works at Bull River Taco – yum!) so I didn’t have to cook supper. When I got home, Chrissy and Nate were painting my foundation, and it looks amazing. They hope to finish tomorrow. That is one of the jobs I was concerned about completing before winter, to preserve the integrity of the foundation. Home maintenance is so important! Thanks, CK and Nate-Dogg! Love you!
On this day in 1773 Ben Franklin wrote: There never was a good war or bad peace; in 1789 Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first Secretary of the US Treasury. In 1847 ‘Oh, Susanna!’ was sung in public for the first time. The Carol Burnett Show premiered in 1967, and in 2005 Pride & Prejudice, starring Keira Knightly, premiered. O. Henry was born in 1862, Todd Beamer died at age 32 in 2001, and Lorne Greene (Bonanza star) died in 1987. My dear friend Joni is celebrating a birthday today, so happy birthday Joni! God bless. My step-brother Dick and his wife Roberta (Bobbie) were married 50 years ago today. What an amazing accomplishment. So happy for both of you! And today would have been my parents’ (Cliff and Dorothy) 73rd wedding anniversary. They can celebrate in heaven!
And in 2001, 20 years ago today, The Twin Towers in NYC were destroyed by two hi-jacked planes. Death tolls were just short of 3,000 people. Then the pentagon was struck, and another plane was taken over by the passengers and crashed in a field in Shanksville, PA – with Todd Beamer being instrumental at that success. He was 32. Our country pulled together during that horrifying time, and we need to look again at what is important and worthy and pull together as a country once again. God bless America. Listen to Alan Jackson’s ‘Where were you when the world stopped turning’ and really hear the words. Then reflect on this: 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Pray for healing…
Another quote from the memory book: April 18 – Tell about the best birthday present you ever received. “It may not be the “best” birthday gift I ever received but it was the most ‘revealing’. They bought me a 2 peice swim suit which Dad said the money they paid for it would cover more of me than the swimsuit did. I really liked it.” Teenagers never change, do they???
TOMORROW September 12 is:
- National Just One Human Family *
- National Hug and High 5 Day *
- National Video Games Day
- National Chocolate Milkshake Day
- National Day of Encouragement
- National Report Medicare Fraud Day
- National Pet Memorial Day
- National Hug Your Hound Day
- National Grandparent’s Day
Not only did I have 2 sets of grandparents (whom I loved!) but I also AM a grandparent, which I love being! Thank you to Autmn, Peyton, Chrissy, Logan, and Chase for making me a happy grandparent! God bless!
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