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 …

This was the first Wednesday I’ve spent the entire day home alone since the middle of February. It seemed really strange, and it took me until 12:02 (NOON) to actually get started on my cleaning. Lots of phone calls and emails to take care of. Things went better than expected! I stepped out on the front porch and saw a baby bunny hiding under the Dutch Iris plants. Then I stepped on the back deck and saw a rainbow reflected in the kitchen door – so snapped a photo of the reflection and the real thing. And there hadn’t been a drop of rain – so I think God was just giving me something MORE to smile about!

I listened to Micah’s message from Old Mahoning, entitled A BLESSED NATION. We are blessed because of the abundance we have within our nation; food, jobs, freedom, choices — Not everything is perfect but there are a lot of perfect things. We did not pick where we would be born; GOD picked that. But what could undermine a nation? Failed Strategy: Nations will fail if they don’t line their strategies up with God’s strategy. With GOD nothing is impossible, and even if it seems to be, it isn’t if it’s within God’s plan. Circumstances don’t determine outcome; GOD determines outcome. False Surveillance: God can see the whole picture; the whole world, but still see inside our individual hearts. If we follow God and serve him faithfully he sees that and we will never be sorry for serving him. False security: Often we rely on size, strength, and our defense resources to make us feel secure. But God’s protection is the only security we ever need. And what does God want from us? Our righteousness, and for us to give our hearts to Him, put our Hope in Him, and rely on His help. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!!

In 1776 Colonel John Nixon gave the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. In 1796 the US State Department issued the first US Passport. The Liberty Bell cracked AGAIN in 1835. John D Rockefeller was born in 1839, and Betty Ford died at age 93 in 2011. In 1942 Cary Grant & Barbara Hutton were married. Two friends from the Albion area are celebrating today: Lisa Carter Siders and Marcella Mooney. Happy birthday ladies.

Today is National Freezer Pop Day, National Chocolate with Almonds day, and National Video Game Day. I’m sure my grandson CHASE celebrated that, even if he didn’t know!

Love your nation, love your God. You will share what you love! God bless —

Today was a rather difficult day. Mom is having some health issues that we have to deal with, and it has made Kathy’s and my hearts heavy and sad. Thankfully we have a God who holds us in the palm of His hand. We trust that His care of all of us will be perfect and true. I got to work a little before one, and got home about 4:30pm. I did, however, get to talk at great length to Kelly, who is coping well and feeling pretty good, waiting on a care plan for the next month. I had about 15 minutes outside pulling weeds before the thunder rumbled and the rain came down. We need rain SO BAD that it was a beautiful sight!

I listened to Paul’s message from River Hill. This was their first week to meet back in the church, and I could feel the joy radiating from within. They were stepping out to trust God to keep them safe as they worshiped. Paul talked about the Israelites crossing the Jordan on dry ground, and stopping to gather 12 stones from the river bed and build a memorial of thanks. Paul explained that WE, the people of God’s church, are the memorial stones, and people look to us as the examples of God. Scripture says that even the ROCKS will cry out, expressing joy toward God. We need to praise God for all to see – praise him as an expression of joy, praise him for our new birth, and praise him as our living hope – eternity! Let’s all be the best rocks that we can, and PRAISE in all things. ALL things!

On this day in 1940 Ringo Star was born in Liverpool England, and Arthur Conan Doyle died at age 71 in 1930. In 1949 Shelley Duvall was born on this day and married on this day in 1970! Today is National Dive Bar Day, National Father/Daughter take a walk Day, National Macaroni Day, and National Strawberry Sundae Day. I did none of that! I think I’ll make it be – – – – National HAT Day! I did wear a hat on my walk this morning! Have a great day, and God Bless!

There are days when I’m not actually sure what day of the week it is! Normally I can figure that out by whether I had Mom for the day, went to work, or fulfilled an obligation! But if I’m guessing right today is Monday. Chris spent the night with me Sunday, and we visited with Grama Dot today. Chris helped me defrost the mini-fridge (purple!) downstairs as it was over-iced. I framed a post card that my cousin Beth found that was sent to Grama Crooks in the early 1920’s – almost 100 years old! – and hung it in my bedroom. After Mom went back to Kathy’s Chris and I went shopping. She is going to Outdoor Odyssey (Camp) next week and needed a few things. Short are almost as scarce as toilet paper was in March! We managed to get most of what she needed and then had Subway for supper.

I listened to First Baptist in Greensburg; a guest minister Mac Reed, whose sermon was FREE INDEED. He shared the following, listing 7 things that make our country great: Principles, values, courage, diversity, benevolence, possibilities, and being founded on God’s word. But this world (country) is not our home; we are passing through, and will go HOME because we have freedom in Christ: Freedom from the law, from guilt of sin, power of sin, power of darkness, fear of man, and the sting of death. And the question he asked at the end: Are YOU Free? Men have paid the price so American is free (some with their lives); Jesus paid the price so WE could be free!

On this date in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was announced on the front page of the PA Evening Post, and in 1942 Anne Frank’s family went into hiding. “Forrest Gump” was released in 1994. In 1971 Louis Armstrong died at age 69; in 1921 Nancy Reagan was born and George W Bush Jr – our 43rd president – was born in 1946. And today my friend Mary Ellen Neff-Miller is celebrating a birthday – I met her through association with the Saltsburg Historical Society. Happy birthday Mary Ellen!

Today is National Fried Chicken Day (I had grilled chicken; does that count?) and International Kissing Day (none of that here!) Have a great week and God Bless – – –

After the busy exciting 4^th celebration, today was quiet and laid back in comparison.  I took a very short morning walk and then waited for Mom. Paul was excited to be presenting his first in-person sermon from the pulpit of River Hill Church so I had Mom stay here with me.  We just hung out, went in and out the basement door about a dozen times an hour, and made a yummy lunch.  I have a few things I’d like to do later, but for now just chillin’ out in the coolness of my basement family room is ok with me.

We listened to Rod at Martin’s Ferry Church this morning.  It was part 2 in the series I FEEL GOOD (finding optimism – how to see things in a good perspective.  That is a decision you make daily!).  When we look around us we could find many things to be pessimistic about; but GOD is still in control, no matter that is happening in the world.  God said ‘I will never forsake you’; He is our help and we never need to be afraid.   As the scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, to make a difference in this nation we must humble ourselves and pray (a favorite verse!

Today’s movies and TV shows are dark and foreboding.  The characters refuse to accept God’s values and it pulls the nations down.  But God promises he will do amazing things!  Is our focus on the world or on God? GOD is still in control.  All the time!  God IS in control, not me, not politicians, government, rioters.  If we stand on GOD’s promises he will save us; again, he will never leave or forsake us.  “I will not be afraid; what can MAN do to me?” God doesn’t forget us, or His promises.  I know that I am saved, and will outlast the world.  I feel good!

On this day in 1810, PT Barnum was born.  In 1911 Lucy Maud Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables) married Ewan McDonald.  Today is National apple turnover Day, National Graham Cracker Day (all those leftover crackers from making s’mores yesterday!!!), National workaholics Day (I can relate), and National Bikini Day.

It’s also 95* in the shade!  But I don’t mind the heat.  Have a great week!  God bless…

Today has been the perfect Independence Day celebration for me. I took an early morning walk, noting the banners and flags and displays of our country’s celebration of freedom. I volunteered to be part of Hanna’s Town’s Free Museum day and was on site by 10am. Hanna’s Town is an historic site that dates to the Revolutionary War era. I was stationed in the Tavern, and was able to share with guests the history of that area of Western Pennsylvania, the town itself, and the colonial way of life in the 1770’s.

My sister and brother in law, my niece and her husband and their daughter came out to be part of the day – and I was so glad to have them there! Made me proud to share with my family! The site was busy all day, and I recounted the same facts so many times I lost myself trying to remember what I told which group. Some were very receptive and wanted as much information as I could provide; others wanted a quick synopsis and then were on their way to the next area. I loved sharing the information. One gentleman sat down and we just chatted for about half an hour – and he was excited every time he learned a new fact! He spent time with Proctor’s Militia as well, and they said he gave me 5 stars for presentation and information! How fun! I’m pretty sure everyone enjoyed their day.

Members of Proctor’s read the Declaration of Independence twice; once in the morning and once late afternoon. The familiar words brought chills to my spine, as I listed to the recitation and let the thoughts and intentions of those early patriots sink in. Very humbling and encouraging. There was even a rifle salute after the readings.

Several ladies from the militia were cooking over an open fire right outside the tavern window, and the roasting chicken aromas wafted through and smelled wonderful. The food they cooked would be served to the militia for dinner, as many of them were camping there overnight.

I left Hanna’s Town, came home and took a quick shower (it was very hot in the closed in tavern!) and spent the evening at Nate’s. He cooked burgers and dogs on the grill, and we all sat outside and enjoyed the summer evening. When I pulled into my neighborhood, houses up and down all of the streets were setting off fireworks. Probably the biggest display that has ever been set off in the neighborhood. I stood outside on the driveway and tried to look in all directions. The bright orange moon added to the wonder of the night sky, filled with bright colors of lights raining down over the trees and rooftops. Perfect ending.

But here are some facts that you may or may not know about the 4th of July. It was not declared a federal holiday until 1870. Three presidents died on July 4th: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Monroe. John Hancock’s signature is the largest on the Declaration of Independence (and I believe he was the first to sign!). Fireworks have been part of Independence celebrations since 1777. Massachusetts was the first state to make Independence Day a Holiday. The liberty bell has not been rung since 1846 because of a crack which occurred that year when it was rung in celebration of George Washington’s birthday. And lastly, it’s my favorite holiday! Who knew???

On this date in 1776 the Liberty Bell rang for the 2nd continental congress. Also in 1776 the United States declares independence from Britain. General Lee’s army withdraws from Gettysburg in 1863. In 1884 the Statue of Liberty was presented to the US in Paris. US raises the flag at Iwo Jimo in 1944. And today is Independence Day. That is more than enough!

And let me say, as Lee Greenwood so aptly said years ago, GOD BLESS THE USA!