I’ll try to do a quick catch-up since Thursday! The trip to Kelly’s Thursday night was horrid. The storm caught me pulling out of the garage and followed me as far as Washington PA – I couldn’t see the road and we all just followed each other. Almost everyone had their 4-ways on and went about 35 MPH. The sky was exploding in lightening constantly. I was SO glad to get there – took an hour and a half as apposed to under an hour. Kelly and I left for UPMC Shadyside at 6:30am Friday morning. Traffic was light, the GPS took us right there easy-peasey, and the parking was onsite. The parking garage looked like a Kennywood ride! The picture shows my car at the bottom of the ramp. Kelly tried to take pictures of the skyline when we were leaving the city but we were too far away. We were home before 10am. Her appointment went well – no new skin cancer cells!



Friday morning while Kelly and the boys were doing some home school classes, I took a walk to West Virginia. It’s only a stone’s throw across the creek, and a short walk down the road. I met a very friendly butterfly inside the covered bridge. This butterfly landed in my shoe on the porch afterwards, and even flew right into my chest! I think it was following me. He was a very nice butterfly. It was nice to stretch my legs and get some fresh air, and I never get tired of looking at the creek and the woods, flowers, and watching for animals. And two helicopters overhead. Walking back to the house I heard a large crash and walked over to the tree house to see that a huge limb had broken off and landed on the railing. Thankfully, nothing was damaged. Good job building this, Peyton! When we came back from Walmart Friday night we saw about 6 dozen deer in three separate fields, and Sunday on the way home I saw two huge turkeys in the field chatting with some black cows. Holy cow!








We made a Walmart run, took Kelly to Shayla’s for her shower and bandage change (a HUGE thanks to Shayla for all she’s done! She’s an angel!). We did laundry, cooked, did dishes, made cinnamon rolls and scones, I took Peyton to Tractor Supply for some bolts. I’m used to taking the girls shopping, and I can tell you it’s a stark difference in shopping with girls and with boys! Bolts and screws are not in my interest range. On the way down, we saw a pickup truck that had its utility trailer INSIDE the bed of the truck instead of towing it. Hmmmm. And on the way home he took me a short cute (Sound familiar, Paul Eisaman???), and although the scenery was breathtaking and amazing, we were in the middle of nowhere! By the time we got home my knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel! But it was all good – and I did see some lovely homes and animals and even vistas.

Friday afternoon and Saturday Kelly and I cleaned out drawers and bins and shelves and rearranged things (well, I did, she directed!) to give her more space and more walking area. Then we did a little of that in the boys’ room. I ran the sweeper and wiped everything off, changed sheets and aired out the comforter – so those two rooms are fresh and good now! But you know boys – not sure how long THAT will last. Chase watched the whole thing while stretched out on top of the living room couch playing one of his video games!

Friday afternoon Kelly, the boys and I went to their welcome back to home school picnic. It was at Claysville park, and they had a really nice playground, a quaint creek with two swings (rope and wooden) and even a fort marking a Revolutionary War site. There were supposed to be ‘tours’ of the fire trucks and emergency vehicles but it stormed so bad they couldn’t let the kids out of the pavilion. But it was a very nice event.

Oh, and I’m wearing my wrist brace as directed.







I got home this morning at bout 10am, emptied the car and the suitcases and bags, started laundry and cut the grass. I’ve spent the afternoon answering emails.
I will catch up on the last two sermons from last week, and double up on Sunday and Monday’s messages tomorrow. The first one is Steve from Maplewood. His message was infused with History about the area where the Jordan river begins – about the pagan worship and what had happened in that spot. That is where Jesus asked Peter who do YOU say that I am? When he answered the Son of God, Jesus said he would now be called Peter, and that ROCK was the keys that he’d base his teaching on. There was a rock at this place where the Jordan began so it was a double meaning. Jesus is asking us that same question – who do we say Jesus is? We should follow Him – the church still stands, and we are part of that church – the Kingdom is here, now, and Jesus is the source of living water.

Micah’s message from Old Mahoning was taking about the END. We have a great Messiah, a great moment, and a great message. Think of the phrase ‘And it came to pass ” – things are temporary and will pass in the fullness of time, God’s perfect timing. Just as God has said it would be, it is! 1) The King is coming – introduce him to others: His love, he is long-suffering, he is just. 2) The world is ripe for his return – in this moment, ready for the end. We read there will be famines, earthquakes, storms, floods — all of this is happening. In the meantime, we should live a good life while we wait. 3) Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Tell the good news. We often wonder away, but it’s us pulling back – God never leaves us, so get your ‘house’ in order, and be ready for His coming!

On this day in 1682 William Penn sailed for the new world and in 1862 the Confederate Army won the second battle of Bull Run. In 1890 President Benjamin Harrison signed the first US Law requiring inspection of meat products. And 1993 saw the 150,000,000 millionth visitor to the Eiffel Tower. Shirley Booth (HAZEL) was born in 1898, Warren Buffet in 1930, and Cameron Diaz in 1972. Vera Ellen died at age 60 in 1982 and Charles Bronson died at age 81 in 2003.
A friend from Smail’s, Kim Fagan, is celebrating a birthday today. And one of my Pinnacle bosses, Kenneth Lee Moore, has a birthday today! Ken- wishing you a great day with you family and friends! God bless —

TOMORROW, August 31 is:
- National South Carolina Day (Why do they have their own day?)
- National Matchmaker Day (Staying away from THIS!!!)
- National Diatomaceous Earth Day
- National Trail Mix Day (Ron Shafer????)

If you had a busy weekend like I did, give yourself a break. Do what you need to do, reflect about what’s important and the friends and family you are thankful for, and ask God to bless them! God bless…
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