What an absolutely beautiful day here!  The weather was very warm but breezy, with barely a sprinkle of rain about 2pm.  Mom and I were outside all day except to eat lunch.  We even ate our mid-afternoon snack on the back deck.  I had to handle a few work-related and medical related items first thing; then send out a few pieces of mail.  I dug out the roots of the sprout from the bridal bush in my front yard for a neighbor – glad I could share and I hope it grows for them.  Picked up sticks in front yard, pulled some weeds, and spread 6 bags of brown mulch.  It looks so nice!  I can’t mulch the hill, as it washes down into the yard at the first rain!  I’ll have to come up with another idea for that.  Picked up 7 small pots of rapidly spreading ground cover and hoping they all live up to their name.  Also have a big patch of oregano that needs thinned out so will move some of that to the hill as well.  Projects for the rest of the weekend.  I don’t intend to jump fully back into the fray but I do have 2 things to get at a store that’s been closed since March.  That should keep me busy through Monday, anyway.  And maybe a trip to Arona Road Greenhouse is in order as well.  Planting flowers could be a project for mom and I later in the week. 

The message for today was from Rod at the Martin’s Ferry church in Ohio – They are not under the same restrictions as PA and have been able to reconvene for services – using safe distancing and sanitation procedures.  Rod’s sermon was about ‘Happy home, happy life.’ – appropriate for Mother’s day.  His opening thought was:  Would you make more of an effort if you were being observed in your home environment for a year?  Probably you would.  So point one was that you WOULD put more effort into your relationships, and submit to one another; it’s not one sided.  It would involve serving.  Look after each other’s wishes and needs and wants.  Point two was more intimacy.   Not just physical.  Intimate in your heart, and mind and soul, and being one with each other.  It’s social, physical, spiritual – sharing trust and love.  Three – parents would teach and train more.  Be consistent.  You need to discipline, not punish.  Discipline is for the child’s good; punishment brings satisfaction to the parents (teacher, etc).  Bring your child up in the Lord; be an example.  Teach them AS you walk with them.  Don’t tell them and then leave them to fend for themselves.  Don’t exasperate your children!  Point four was CHILDREN, obey your parents!  They are given charge over you and will be held accountable.  And the promise is that if you do obey and honor, your days will be long on the earth!   Our families are ordained by God – what a blessing! 

On this day in 1957 Billy Graham launched his Crusade at Madison Square Garden in front of 18,000 people.  Emily Dickinson died at age 55 in 1886, and June Carter Cash died at age 73 in 2003.  On this date TODAY we are half way through the month of May.     

So back to the first statement:  If someone was watching you in your home for a whole year, would you do anything differently?  Well, someone is watching you – every day, your entire life!  God watches and cares and encourages and guides us.  Maybe we should try to act like we believe that!  God bless…