"Live for the Lord"

Tom and I have been doing a morning devotion using a book written by Billy Graham. This morning's devotion must have been written with Merle in mind. It was entitled "Live for the Lord". Billy talks about how fast time flies using the illustration of a weaver's shuttle. Job says that his days are "swifter than a weaver's shuttle". Billy says, "Quick, quick, quick! We have only a few brief years at the most. Let's live them for the Lord!"

I'd like to expand on Billy's metaphor. As the weaver's shuttle weaves its tapestry we can see its beauty. The tapestry of Merle's 90 years shows us a beautiful pattern of love, faith, joy, perseverance in trials, patience, kindness, goodness. Merle's life lived in the Lord has been a witness and a blessing for all of us who know him!

As I read over my desciptors of Merle, I realize that those are the fruits of the Spirit. God's spirit does indeed show itself in Merle! Happy Birthday! We love you!

The Difference a Day Makes

On my first day back after Easter break, it seems that my students had never been working with me. Almost 100% of them couldn't seem to do what they could do weeks ago! By the following day they had bounced back and were doing terrific! What a difference a day makes!

Two weeks ago for our cantata I had over 30 choir members. Last night only 13 were at practice--illnesses and other conflicts. What a difference a week makes!

It's hard to believe that Merle will be 90! That means that when I first met him he was 57! He seems to be no different after 33 years! What difference does 33 years make?

Time sure is fickle! Sometimes it makes such a difference and for other things nothing changes. Hallelujah! Jesus is still the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Again my post didn't publish--Trying again!

Back to a Routine

I love it when routines are broken, and yet there is something comfortable about getting back into one. Here I am with my routine "early morning before school checking my blogs time". It looks like everyone was out of their routine as there was a shortage of blogging over the Easter break.

My Easter break was great! I got lots of things done (although by no means did I finish my list), got to see lots of people who are important to me, got to worship at some awesome services, and got to enjoy some incredible weather. The only thing that I would have liked to do and didn't was to take a trip. Maybe another time!

The outside of our home is looking pretty spiffy! Our new windows are installed, I painted the trim on the front porch. Tom worked up and planted some things in the garden, flowerbeds are cleaned out, yard rolled and lush and green, trees transplanted. The only big project not finished--we have a trench dug between our deck and our house where Tom suspects there's a leak in the pipe between the well and the house. Now that the trench is dug, we're not sure what to do next. I wonder how long the trench will be there before we figure that out!

It was fun to see all the Patterson clan at the shower--what a lot of stuff for a tiny baby! But fun! I also got to spend some time with my twin, Pat, and hear all about her "Sinister Minister" excitement. Spent a little time with Andy and parents, and quite a bit of time with kids and grandkids.

All in all it was a great Easter vacation! Now back to the routine--my first student will be here in 15 minutes! Blessings on your Monday routine!

My attempt to publish this at 7:15 am did not work. It is now 12:45 and I'm trying again -- so much for routine.

It did not publish again. It is now 9:00 p.m. and I will try once more.

Tuesday Already

I have a list! I usually don't do that, but I have a list -- things I'd like to get finished around the house this week-- or I should say things that I would like Tom and I to get done around the house this week. Yesterday we went great guns! Today--not so much! Oh well!

Pat was supposed to come today-- now not coming until tomorrow, I think. Also window installers coming tomorrow. Heidi needs a babysitter for a while tomorrow. Choirs tomorrow night. Looks like the list will wait until Thursday-- or maybe next week, or maybe summertime. That's the thing about lists--they can stay a list for a long time.

What a great day!

Hallelujah, Now Be Joyful! was the way the morning started as we celebrated the Resurrection! We heard about how Jesus was about ruining funerals (Jairus' daughter, Lazarus', His own, and ours!)

Emily and Bob provided a wonderful meal and we had a great day!

In yesterday's news-- Sinister Minister won the Bluegrass Stakes--that means he will go to the Kentucky Derby! It was very exciting to watch! There were two favorites that all the commentators were focusing on-- Sinister Minister beat them all by 9 lengths! I called Pat on her cell phone shortly after the race. She was so excited! She even got in the winner's circle! And, as predicted her horse (the same bloodline as Sinister Minister) now has greatly increased in value! Watch and root for Sinister Minister in the Kentucky Derby in a few weeks!

Sinister Minister

No, I'm not describing my husband. This is a long story that I probably only half remember, but here goes. Many of you know that my twin sister is a horse person--big time. She raises thoroughbred horses as a not-so lucrative business. For years I've listened to her go in great detail about many things about horses. This story has my interest. She used to have a race horse named "Sweet Minister". Sweet Minister was sold after she had some babies at Pat's farm. Then she had the opportunity to "shack up" (I'm not sure of the correct term) with another talented former race horse. They had baby horse "Sinister Minister". Sinister Minister is showing wonderful promise as a race horse, has been trained by a famous trainer, and will be running in the Bluegrass Stakes (or something like that) this Saturday at 5:21. If he does well he could go on to the Kentucky Derby. The Bluegrass Stakes will be televised on ABC between 5 and 6 this Saturday. Pat is very excited and will be making a trip down to Kentucky for the race. Even though Sinister Minister is not her horse, if he does well that could make the sibling(s) that she owns more valuable. The bad news is that Pat won't be coming up for Easter. The "sinister minister" and his "sweet minister" wife at my house will be watching and rooting.

Seven and a half hours and counting!

My Easter break begins in 7 1/2 hours! I'm looking forward to a break from my routine. It has been a busy week and it feels like I've packed 5 days into 3.

Some really exciting news for me professionally. One of the children that I work with started off the beginning of 2nd grade reading at a beginning 1st grade level. She is now in third grade and the results of her achievement tests show that she is reading at a 5th grade level (a jump of 4 grade levels in 2 years)! That's exciting and a real testimony to her perseverance. Another student (a first grader) was at a below kindergarten level a year ago. He tested at a 2 grade 3rd month level. Yippee! This job can be very gratifying!

What will my Easter break bring? Lots of outside work; preparation to have our replacement windows installed; a couple of showers (a lot more than that if I count the showers I take in the mornings); and hopefully some R and R.

Tour Bus Tag Team Traffic

As if the construction on 94 and 23 weren't enough, this morning there were 4 tour buses (where were they going?)heading north. They seemed to be taking turns blocking both lanes at a slow speed. I'd just get past one and another would pull into the lane I was in! Needless to say there was a long line of traffic patiently (or impatiently) waiting for them. When they got to where 23 and 14 split off two went one way -- the other two went the other. Now they were slowing down two freeways! So much for getting to school at my usual early time to get my blogging and preparing done. But, four of my students went on a field trip this morning, so now I have free time. Blessings on your day! May your freeway of life not be clogged with too much traffic!

Who Was More Startled?

What a beautiful day! I went outside this afternoon to clean out some flower beds. I came upon my first snake of the season. I wasn't too happy about it--but the snake was even more unhappy. It tried to attack my rake, sat there a few minutes, then slowly slithered behind the cement stoop, I guess to get some more sleep before warm weather really gets here. I thought we had a deal. I told them last year that I don't mind them hanging around eating bugs--just don't startle me! I guess I should have kept my end of the bargain, too.

I was going to post a picture of a snake for all of you who are snake squeamish. But I haven't figured out how to post a picture from the web yet. So I'll just say ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssee ya!

I Love Saturday! I Hate Saturday!

I love Saturday because I get to do all the things I didn't get to all week. Finishing flower girl dresses! Cleaning from the mess I made while sewing flower girl dresses! Cleaning in general -- hasn't been done in a while! Shopping for a new blouse to go with an old suit. Catching up on blogs!

I hate Saturday because each thing I start to do takes me much longer than it did in my brain and because for every one thing I accomplish I see 18 more that need doing. And more often than not I get going into 5 different directions! The reason I'm here right now is that I started cleaning a pile of "stuff" that accumulated near my computer. The pile is still there! Back to work! Oh, maybe I'll just go shopping--except on my way out the door--I'll probably stop to clean out a flowerbed!

Happy Saturday!

Service Engine Soon

What does that mean? You better not drive another mile? Time to check the oil? Doomsday for your vehicle is coming? It seems to be running fine--other than the heater blower doesn't always work until you hit a bump in the road. Is the "service engine soon" a way of saying "get that fixed"?

Yesterday morning my van was giving me that message. I'm concerned. Is it safe to drive home? I chanced it (to be more precise, I forgot about it and didn't even look to see if the light was still on).

So this morning, I did what any good "what should I do?"er would do. I let Tom take my van and I drove his vehicle to work. So, as we speak, the van is at the shop to solve the mystery of the "service engine soon" light.

Maybe this "service engine soon" idea could be incorporated into different areas of my life-- physically (a little light on my body would be helpful)--sometimes I ignore symptoms thinking, "that will go away". Spiritually--I think a big light would be great! CAUTION!! GET BACK TO THE WORD AND PRAYER! Like turning over my possible engine problem to Tom, I'm thankful that I always have Someone to turn my big or little, possible or impossible problems to.

Tornadoes and Palm Sunday

With Palm Sunday coming up and news of tornadoes in the midwest, I was reminded of news events in our community 41 Palm Sundays ago. Like many people that night we had tornadoes come through our community killing 5 people in our town. My family slept through it all. It happened at about 11:15 at night when my family had all gone to bed. The next morning I woke up and looking out my window thought, "That's strange. How come I can't see the Tehoke's barn?" The tornado ripped off our front steps knocked a tree down in our front yard, totally demolished two of our neighbor's barns and we slept through it!
School was called off the next day and later we went out to survey the damage. Unbelievable. One of my classmates had an article written about him in "Time" or "Newsweek". Danny was picked up in his bed and put down 1/4 mi. away--no injuries. Another man got out of bed and 2 seconds later a tractor came crashing down into his bed. Another couple had a chimney crash down between them.
My prayers are with the people impacted by the tornadoes in the past few weeks and for all of us to be protected and safe this tornado season.