Happy birthday John!

Today my stepfather turns 99 years old.  An incredible life!  He is still mobile, independent, alert, and one of the most informed people I know.  I also know that being separated from my mom is very hard for him, and he would never have chosen for life to take this turn.  I am thankful that he has family and friends around him to watch over him, share with him, and stop after church and sing happy birthday from the driveway.  A huge thanks to Byron (minister at Keepville Bible Church) for making that happen.  His Greensburg family all wish this dear man much happiness and good health as he continues to live out his days for the Lord.  Happy birthday! 

Linus has uncovered a truth in today’s strip:  Sometimes practicality overrides vanity!  Linus was not sure wearing glasses would serve him well within his social circles, but in the end, being able to SEE won out!  How many times to we weigh decisions based on unimportant or trivial choices?   

After ‘church’ this morning Kelly and I baked brownies for Matt and cinnamon rolls for Peyton.   They are cooling, and then we will ice them.  Kelly is planning to order Abie and Bimbo’s pizza for dinner so they can take the leftovers home as well.  I wanted to send a peace offering to my brave little men when Kelly heads home. Three of their favorite foods, and their three favorite people!  God bless my little family as they are reunited. 

We listened to/and watched Rod from Martin’s Ferry Church this morning.  I really enjoy having real time facts mixed in with the message, and this morning Rod spoke about the importance in scripture of the number 40.  Look it up!  In Ohio (where the church is), they are released from the stay-at-home mandate on May 1st – 40 days from inception.  The root of the word ‘quarantine’ is ‘forty’.  If you take the year 2020 and add it the total is forty (20 + 20).  It means perfect vision.  In these 40 days, the earth has been at rest.  Waterways are cleaner, grass is green, cities are less polluted, highways are near to empty, people are largely at home.  He moved on to talk about Jesus ascending to heaven, and that he is indeed coming back.  As he left into the clouds, he blessed his disciples.  Even though they abandoned him and doubted him, He blessed them.  As many times as we have stepped away from the path we are called to follow, Jesus still forgives and blesses.  Stay focused on Him. Sometimes we think things are impossible, but with God the impossible happens.  Look to God AND the impossible; let Him work through you.  He is coming again!!!   

On this date in 1607, the Jamestown expedition made its first landing in America in Virginia.  In 1941 potatoes were rationed in Holland.  Melania Trump was born in 1970, and my step-father John R. Graves Sr. was born in 1921!   

Do some research this week and look at the number 40.  God Bless.