My poison ivy is itching me crazy! Ugh! I have really good cream so I hope it takes effect quickly! It’s giving me a headache. So, first thing this morning I stopped at the Lynch Field farmer’s market. It was fairly busy, but again no tomatoes and I already bought squash and beans. From there I went to Hanna’s Town. There was a work party doing some planting and mulching and cleaning up. A young Eagle Scout (Jim) organized the project and there were quite a number of volunteers there. I took pictures of the crew and the paths. I helped spread mulch for a little bit, but they had some heavy-duty workers that left me in the dust, so I moved to another spot. I dug up some weeds and straightened up the mulch, lined the area with logs and put some stones there to create interest. Then I pulled the weeds around the trail sign.

One of my favorite spots is the old cement water trough. Since the water isn’t high enough or fast enough to fill it, Joanna said they were going to plant in it instead. I also chopped and pulled and raked weeds and vines away from a small stone wall by the bridge. Looks so much better now! I stayed until after lunch, then came home and scrubbed myself and my equipment. Re-applied cream to poison, did some research, then turned on Christmas Hallmark movies. Had a yummy chicken salad for supper!

Finally I could listen to Micah at Old Mahoning. We are guaranteed salvation if we seek and accept it. He BECAME … so we could BECOME… We need to grow up and accept and recognize and serve! When we get concerned about our salvation we have to know that God is still in charge, and he doesn’t change his mind or let us down. Jesus is our high priest and he protects us. God established a promise, and it will endure, we can enjoy, and it’s unchangeable! It’s forever, because God doesn’t lie. He gave us an anchor, he gave us access to him and salvation, and we have the advantage of FOREVER. So our responsibility is to move on to perfection; DO something! Stay in the Word, if not, you’ll stray and fall away. God cares about us and notices everything we do and what we need. We have hope in Him and it never dies!

On this day in 64, it was the Great Fire of Rome under emperor Nero – remember: Nero fiddled while Rome burned??? In 1864 Abraham Lincoln asked for 500,000 volunteers for military service. John Glenn was born in 1921, and Kristen Bell (FROZEN fame) was born in 1980. Jane Austen died at age 41 in 1817. And Machine Gun Kelly was born in 1895 and died at age 59 in 1954 on his birthday.

Today is National sour candy Day, National caviar Day, and World listening day. None of those apply to me today, although I am listening to Hallmark movies! Have a great day! God bless…

I took a longer walk this morning, but then had to go in to work for a while. I just finished up everything on my desk so I will have a clean start on Monday. After lunch (more squash!) I spent about 3 1/2 hours outside, pulling weeds and trimming back the out-of-control lilac bushes in the front yard. I also painted the metal star that was on my front deck railing.

Remember yesterday I mentioned the park bench that was slated for the trash? Well, I used up the rest of the purple paint and splashed a coat on that, and moved it under the newly trimmed lilac bush. Think I keep it around for a bit longer!

My gladiolas have started to bloom. They are such a lovely shade of pink! And since it was very hot outside I watered the plants on the hill twice, and went over and watered Kathy’s right before lunch. Just now my cousin Paul (Thanks Paul!!!) stopped and loaded the huge pile of branches into his truck and will dump them in his woods. Beats cutting and bundling them!

Tonight my favorite Christmas movie (Godwink Christmas) is on the Hallmark M&M channel again – and I’m for sure going to watch it! And since I couldn’t find Micah’s sermon from Old Mahoning I will look tomorrow for another message to listen to. Paul told me to listen to John MacArthur from California so I may do that. But for tonight we will let Charlie Brown and Linus speak words of scripture for us to ponder. This has been the season for listening to God’s people share His word and bring us HOPE.

On this day in 1995 Forbes Magazine announced that Bill Gates was the richest man in the world – $12.9 million! John Jacob Astor – the first multi-millionaire in the US, was born in 1763, and James Cagney (actor) in 1899. Phyllis Diller (Do you REMEMBER her? Super funny lady!) was born in 1917 and Luke Bryan in 1976 (so excited that a country music super-star made the birthday list! And today a friend and a former minister at Hempfield Church – Bill Pullin – is celebrating his birthday. Godly, wonderful man, invested himself in all of us and is still teaching and leading Bible studies in the State of Indiana. Happy birthday Bill!!!

Now it’s time for ‘Godwink’ – and I just heard that the Hallmark channels are releasing 40 new holiday movies starting October 23rd! Can’t wait! In the meantime – God bless!!!!

I was comfortable in shorts and a tee shirt for my morning walk. Beautiful day! Worked both Pinnacle stores then checked out a local farm market. No tomatoes yet, but I got a squash (will be supper!) and some green beans (tomorrow’s lunch!). When I got home my neighbor was trying to get my overgrown forsythia dug out (I asked if he could). It had such tangled roots that he ended up just cutting it off at the ground. But it’s so nice with that space open! I have an old park bench that’s in horrid shape that I sat there for now, but next week I’ll set it out with the trash. Nate stopped and helped put my Snoopy flag holder back in the ground. It’s so hard-packed that I couldn’t budge it. Also got the next two installments of my Snoopy calendar!

I listened to Mike at Hempfield Church – the stage looked nice with the curtains open, and the wall hangings brightened up the background. The message was part four of the fruits of the spirit: Patience. Mike pointed out that it was easier to be patient when your life is filled with love, joy, and peace – so maybe the order of the fruits have a purpose! But first we have to be patient with circumstances. Lots of things that happen are out of our control; not what we expected. Life goes on even if things don’t go our way. The outcome is probably the same whether we are patient or impatient. Do you have a short, unstable fuse (like a firecracker) or a long fuse? We want to do things our own way in our own timing, and it usually doesn’t work out like we think. But we often think we know better than anyone else, even God! We also need to be patient with people; they will always disappoint you! And be patient with God. He has a plan and we need to wait on Him – although we are often IMPATIENT and don’t want to wait on Him; if God can fix things, then he should get to it! Bottom line, we need to trust God’s timing in everything. If we do things God’s way — it’s perfect.

Oh, and Mike mentioned that he listened to SIX sermons on patience this past week to prepare. I wanted to call him up and tell him I listen to six sermons every week, take notes, and post the synopsis on the Word Garden! 🙂 But I didn’t…

On this day in 1969 Apollo 11 was launched to take the first men to land on the moon, and in 1999 John F Kennedy Jr, his wife and sister-in-law were killed in a plane crash (plane was piloted by Kennedy). In 2004 Martha Stewart was sentenced to prison for lying to Federal investigators….. Orville Redenbacher (popcorn king!) was born in 1907 and Ginger Rogers in 1911. Mary Todd Lincoln died at age 63 in 1882, and in 2001 Meg Ryan divorced Dennis Quaid (I really like them both — too sad!!). And today is my cousin Beth’s only granddaughter (Hazel Sandoval)’s twelfth birthday. Happy birthday, Hazel – have a wonderful day and keep being the sweet, beautiful, loving young lady that you are. After all, you were named after a great lady – your great grandmother Hazel Leone Crooks Cornman! Happy birthday, Hazel!!!

Today is National Corn Fritters Day, National Personal Chef’s Day (I never had one of those) and National Get to know your customers Day. I don’t have any customer – but everyone have a great day. God bless!

It’s the middle of July! Summer is — half over 🙁 I love summer and the warm weather; no shoes, no jackets, no snow, playing in the dirt. Sigh. I will be the optimist. Instead of saying it’s ALREADY half over, I’ll say it’s ONLY half over! This follows closely what Rod’s sermon was about this week, as well as the last two weeks. About feeling GOOD; choosing to be an optimist over a pessimist! My morning walk was pleasant and relaxed, and I had scones for breakfast. I was able to get the entire house cleaned before Autmn and I went over to visit with mom. She looked neat and relaxed and content, and responded with lots of smiles and a few giggles, especially when Autmn was talking to her. She certainly loves the young ones! The nurse’s aid made a comment about how beautiful Autmn is. I forgot to post the picture of Chris the other day – Jen made her hair PURPLE! I’m am pea green (well no – I’m PURPLE) with envy! So cool! Both my girls are beautiful!

As mentioned, Rod’s message was I FEEL GOOD, the third and last one of the series. We need to feel GOOD about the future of our church, and our local church community. God will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it! This is God’s universe, and we need to be content to be a sheep in his pastures; He’s the shepherd and He’s in charge! Remember that NOTHING in life is as important as the meaningful relationships in our life; more than money, more than jobs, more than fame or possessions or education. The relationships are where we form life’s purpose. We share God’s love and His will for our lives- I feel good because I am a child of God; and our goals for God’s church is to share salvation. We need to reach out to everyone like they are ALIVE; not like they are lost/dead – like they will live with us forever if we reach out to the lost and bring them to God. And we know that GOD’s gonna take care of it. God is at work in our community of believers, and we should feel GOOD – Go forth in faith and it’s DONE!

On this day in 1996 Prince Charles and Princess Diana signed divorce papers. And today is my young friend Anaya Drown’s 12th birthday! What a wonderful milestone. She is happy and loving and a beautiful young girl, and loves the Lord; she shows that in all she does. Happy Birthday, Anaya – celebrate!

Today is Give Something Away Day (any coincidence that it’s also Tax Deadline 2020 day???); National I love horses Day, National Pet Fire Safety Day (Whatever THAT would be!) and National Gummi Worm Day!

Be sure to thank God for all the good things in YOUR life! And if you are reading this, you are one of MY good things! God bless —

6am Walmart shopping – lots of goodies! Had sliders for supper – YUM! When I went out for my morning walk, three rabbits were playing tag in my front yard. Work was light – thankfully – because I had a lot of little chores to do at home. Still a few not checked off the list; like ironing and painting the star on my front porch. Joe gave me a huge nativity set, which I brought home and scrubbed and set on the deck to dry. It will be perfect for my Sunday School class! Nate came over and weed-whacked for me, which was a double blessing: Visiting with my son and getting my weeds whacked!

Tonight I listed to a substitute minister (Larry) at First Baptist. His message was Who Are You? He asked the questions – who we are, what are we doing, and where are we going? He talked about who we are: our name identifies us and our heritage. We are formed by our cultural heritage, thru the influence of our families, of our church, and becoming involved in serving. As to what we are doing, we need to be learning – learning new things changes our behavior, and our relationship with God changes as we learn and experience and observe. We work out our relationship with God – He has no grandchildren! We need to use our spiritual gifts, get involved in the work of God and serve; do more than just attend a church. So why are you here? To get where you are going! There is work to do; we must do it!

On this date in 1789 – Bastille Day (look it up!); in 1870 U S Congress granted Mary Todd Lincoln a life pension of $3000 a year. Gerald Ford (38th president and 41st Vice President) was born in 1913. Today is National Cow Appreciate Day. I have ALWAYS appreciated cows! Also, National Mac/Cheese Day, National Nude Day (??? WHAT???) and National Tape Measure Day. I don’t believe I measured anything at all today!

Have a great week. God Bless.

Today at 2pm was the anniversary of the attack and burning of the town of Hanna’s Town in 1782. Pam posted a wonderful, informative video with details on facebook. If your interested in our local history search Westmoreland Country Historical Society on facebook and check it out. It’s a great presentation. My morning walk was brisk and comfortable; work stretched into the afternoon hours, and then I cut the grass and pulled weeds until after 7pm. It was a great day to be outside! I dodged a bullet today – and I know it’s an honor to be called for Jury Duty but I just did that in December. All jurors were excused! So I can go to work tomorrow as planned, then come home and …. you guessed it. WEED!

This evening I listened to Greg at Vanderbilt church – sermon topic Mission Control. He started out by reminding us that God has been bumped out of our society. We just sweep him aside and move forward. We will be studying in Acts for a while – and Acts has ten purposes. 1) A bridge from the old law to the new. 2) Transition 3) History (verified and proven) 4) Foundation (what we believe and why) 5) Birthday (church was born!) 6) Force (gift of the Holy Spirit – why don’t we UTILIZE it more???) 7) Guide (where we are going) 8) Challenge – take it up and GO! SAY IT; SHARE IT; DO IT! 9)Defense 10) Mission – WE have a mission – are we moving forward with it? How do we do that? 1 – Join with Jesus and keep working 2 – Ponder the proof and keep worshiping 3 – Submit to the Spirit and keep waiting. Our society HATES to wait on ANYTHING! But we must wait on Jesus’ return. It is indeed the end times, the last days. Work, worship and wait!

On this day in 1782, as listed above, Hanna’s Town PA was attacked and burned by a British/Native American raiding party. In 1923 the Hollywood sign was dedicated, but it read HOLLYWOODLAND until 1949.

And Pig Pen first appeared in the Peanuts Comic Strips in 1954. Today is National French Fry Day and National Beans & Franks Day. I had neither! Maybe tomorrow — God bless!

Sunny! Warm! After a rough start of being caught in a DOWNPOUR on my morning walk it’s a beautiful day. I put my marinated chicken in the crockpot and it smells very tempting. Will be hard to wait until dinner. After morning chores I decided to pop into the Mall. I haven’t been there since before Christmas, what with everything, and was having withdrawal symptoms for Barbara Ann’s Country Store. I ended up spending more than I thought (although not at Barbara Ann’s). I stopped for hand soap at Bath & Body Works/White Barn (Sorry Kath!!!) and of COURSE they had a sale. It didn’t make sense to purchase two when for almost pennies more you got four! I got a navy tank top with stars on it for half price at Old Navy (NEVER shop there!!!) and a few coasters at BA’s. Now I have some research to do and some copy to write on a fall project that I should have already started! Oh! And I stopped on impulse at a yard sale down the street and got a few things free – they were cleaning out! Twelve gold luminaries with star cutout shapes. Perfect for either Christmas or July 4th! Free is such a good bargain!

I listened to Paul at River Hill this morning, and the message was REPENT OR PERISH. Repent is to turn to God; humble ourselves as a servant. God’s priority is for everyone to repent and turn away from our sin toward righteousness. There is rejoicing in heaven over each soul who repents. God is patient and will receive us when we realize we need Him. But repentance is not returning to our old life; don’t turn and go back to ‘normal’. Move toward God, and create a new, healthy, sinless normal. Throw off what holds us back. Sin is more deadly than the virus – Read II Chronicles 7:14 (a favorite verse of mine!) And God focuses on the living, not the dead, and he won’t bring up past sins. All that matters is our salvation and our relationship with Him. Our death means eternal life, and we need to produce fruit and live for God. Our attitude will lead us through.

In 1804 Alexander Hamilton died after being shot in a pistol duel by Aaron Burr. In 1981 Arnold Palmer won in playoffs at the US Senior Open Men’s Golf tournament. Bill Cosby was born in 1937. Today is National Simplicity Day, National Different Colored Eye Day, National Paper Bag Day, and National Eat Your Jello Day (Could that have anything to do with Bill Cosby’s birthday???) Stay safe, eat your Jello out of a paper bag, and be simple! God bless – – –

To use an old cliche, what a difference a day makes! Woke up to a temperature in the upper 60’s, and it was a nice walk. By the time I was ready to leave the house to check out Ft. Allen’s yard sales, it was windy and cloudy and raining. Took the draw out of hopping in and out of the car, so I changed course and went straight to Craftique. I met Mary Ann and Barb (fellow writers!) there and we had a nice hour chatting.

Found an interesting little weed popping up through a crack in the parking lot — determined little guy! Yards and yards of blacktop and there he was, standing tall and healthy, while the grass in my yard is burnt out in many spots. We should be like that: when life around us is dry and lifeless, and it’s a struggle to stand tall – just keep looking up!

No sermons to listen to today. I pulled some weeds, changed a string of burnt out lights on the deck railing, changed bed sheets, set chicken to marinate in Italian dressing, and visited with my cousin Deb for a while. The weather cleared up a bit but much cooler and more comfortable. Nice day!

On this day in 1960 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is published. John Quincy Adams, our 6th president, was born in 1767, and in 1899 E B White (wrote Charlotte’s Web) was born. And my favorite brother in law is celebrating a birthday today! Happy birthday Paul!! Today is Cheer Up the Lonely Day, Blueberry Muffin Day, Pet Photo Day, and National Seven Eleven Day (free Slurpee). Have a great day – God bless!

Another really hot day! After my early morning walk, I watered the gardens, then cut the back yard. The rest really didn’t need it. Well, maybe one spot which I easily handed;

then I pulled a few stray weeds. Laundry, ironing, little house projects, then I went to pick Autmn up at a friend’s house in Scottdale. I thought I was lost, but I actually just didn’t realize that I wasn’t. We went shopping for a birthday present for my great niece, then I worked outside for about half an hour. As happened the other day, the wind kicked up and it POURED down rain. We need it! Hoping it cools things off.

I listened to a guest speaker from Vanderbilt church. I didn’t get his name. His message was DON’T LOOK BACK. A new start sounds good. Don’t believe the lies of your old life. Forget what is behind you and press on to your goal. God’s plans for you are good; don’t let memory be the enemy. When we look back we lock God out. We end up acting out our thoughts from the past until what we think about becomes reality. We think there is security in the past because it’s familiar, but looking back limits the future because we can’t be in 2 places at once. God is a God of 2nd chances (or 3rd or 4th…). Just keep getting up when you fall. You only fail when you give up! Follow the blueprint for your lives: God’s word! He’ll lead you forward to the future that he wants you to live! Don’t look back!

On this day in 1780 Comte de Rochambeau and his French force of 7000 landed at Newport RI to join the Revolutionary War. In 2019 Taylor Swift was named the world’s highest paid entertainer – $185 million. Carrie Underwood married Mike Fisher in 2010. Today is National Kitten Day, National Pina Colada Day, and Collector Car appreciation Day. Enjoy! God bless.

Today felt like a record-breaker, temperature wise. It was 94* here and humid. It poured down rain when I was at work, but I only got half way home and the roads were dry and the skies clear. My grass could have used a good drink! It still doesn’t need cut after 10 days. The best thing to do was stay inside and be cool.

I listened to Kyle at Hempfield. He was on the 3rd fruit of the spirit, PEACE. To give us peace, Jesus had to walk both sides of the conflict, right through the middle between God and sinful Man, to resolve the conflict. Peace, Kyle said, is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God. If we rejoice in the Lord always, the peace of God will be given to us. The fruits, especially Joy and Peace, are something we can HAVE, or FEEL – there is a difference. Just because we don’t feel peace doesn’t mean we don’t have it. We must give our concerns to God and we will have peace. And there’s more than just claiming peace as our own; we are instructed to be peace-makers: To do so we must enter the conflict, hear the hurts and distress of others, and let them talk. Then we walk through the conflict to find the solution. God’s got this! Seek peace and be a peacemaker!

On this day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was read to George Washington’s troops in New York, and in 1842 the Notary Stamp Law passed (not sure what that was – some notary I am!). In 1956 Dick Clark made his first appearance as host of American bandstand. Zachary Taylor (12th president of the US) died at age 65 in 1850, and in 1952 Fred Rogers married Sara Joanne Byrd. O J Simpson was born in 1947, Tom Hanks in 1956. And today my friend and fellow author Kerry Mountain is celebrating a birthday. Check out her books: The Parson’s Christmas Gift and Wyoming Promises (historic fiction!!)

Today is National Sugar Cookie Day – hope you enjoyed one! God bless …