What Happened to October?

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I looked out the window this afternoon and saw a sky full of ginormous snow flakes.  I found my camera and captured this image of those amazingly huge flakes.  Scenes like this makes me realize how much I enjoy the shelter of our house.  Especially since the snow has been falling all day.

I failed to post anything to this blog during the entire month of October.  I took a few pics, but never turned them into a story for you.  Perhaps on another day, I will.

Friday and Saturday we had special guests.  We’ve known Americo and Kathy Saavedra since the spring of 1975, when we met in Quito, Ecuador.  We worked closely with them for the rest of that year and have been in touch with them since then.

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It was so good to share stories and dreams with them.  Americo told of translating for an Australian who was visiting Ecuador.  The Aussie gent kept referring to “kind and eyeball.”  It was very confusing.  Then he noticed our mutual friend Charlie (also an Aussie) laughing heartily.  Charlie whispered to him, “It’s Cain and Able.”

The Saavedras will officially retire at the end of this year.  That doesn’t mean sit on the sideline for them.  Americo has plans to continue developing Bible teachers and mentors through out Latin America and beyond.

Sometimes Life Requires Courage

This is the story of a friend who is a life saver.  Here’s the story in Amanda’s own words:

August 28 at 1:08 PM

Well, not how I planned my day… Got up to go to Lansing. I thought I would detour though Ionia on my way and see my husband for a second… I pass by what I thought was roadkill, but see it move. I am NOT one to turn around or put something out of it’s misery… I kept driving, but it was killing me. It was a baby kitty…. So I got to the end of the road turned and texted my husband to call me so he could check it…. Well, he didn’t call me, I waited a couple minutes and had to go back. I was so scared of what I would see. I pulled over, cars going by both ways, and even straddling this poor thing in the middle of the road. I opened my door to go look and it started meowing!  Well, I put my big girl pants on and RAN! I grabbed this little baby and wrapped it in a sweatshirt and took off to the vet.

190831a I was too scared to look. But didn’t “feel” any guts hanging out. Made it to the vet with just a couple of tears! So glad I went back! She was just scared and scraped up on her face! She’s at the vet clinic in Ionia!  They will be re-homing her.

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August 29 at 10:27 PM ·

Well, we blew it today! The dogs convinced Jason and I that they wanted a little sister… So it happen! We went and picked Portland up from the vet. She is doing well. Her little nose is pretty beat up, but that’s all. She loves to be held….a lot!

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Bowser likes to sniff her and Benny isn’t sure what to think. He won’t look at her too long. Lol.

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So that’s the story of how Amanda rescued Portland and gave her a new home.  Amanda didn’t want a cat.  She doesn’t like cats.  (Had a bad experience with one.)  With a heart as big as hers, Miss Kitty (Portland) found space there along with a new home and new friends that can protect her.

Friends From South of the Border

Yesterday, I heard the door bell ring.  Twice.  I was on the phone with my sister, Clara.  While still talking with Clara, I went to the door and . . .

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There at the door were two dear friends from Indiana.  David and JoAnn  I first met David in the blogosphere through a niece, Clara’s daughter.  I put the phone on speaker so that Clara could greet David and vice versa.

Sylvia was clerking at the food coop a couple of villages from here.  On those days, she frequently gets Chinese carry out.  So I called her to get their choices (and ours) for supper.  We had a great time.

We had a wonderful time sharing tales–both short and tall.  We even found time to share catalogs of ailments and woes.  However, not much time for the latter.

David is the kind of guy with whom I enjoy sharing philosophical and theological ideas.  He is highly intelligent and insightful.  If I could have an older brother, I’d want it to be him.  Too soon it was over.

After a nice breakfast, we shared out good-byes and they left.

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We look forward to our next meeting.  Either here or in Indiana.  Sylvia and I wish them well as they continue their swing through Michigan.

I just hope he didn’t get lost following my directions to Grand Rapids.

On Friends

Chuck & Sylvia #2a

Last week, Sylvia and I attended a gathering of my high school class.  It has been 61 years ago that we graduated, and now we meet each year.  Of the 60 plus grads, most of us are still alive.  A couple choose not to attend our gatherings and profess no interest in fellow classmates.

Interestingly, folks who were not close during our school days (daze) who were not particularly close, truly enjoy each other’s company now.  Talk is of children (some of whom are already retired), grands and great grands.  At least one has great great grands.  Catalogs of ailments, aches and pains are also compared.

On the way back home, my thoughts turned to the nature of friendship.  From here, it looks like the bonds are friendship are forged from matters held in common.  Those matters could be goals, achievements, experiences, commitments, etc.

Some of my younger friends talk of “doing life together.”  Perhaps that is, in fact, the very essence of friendship.

What is your view of friendship?

A Welcome Visitor

Sunday evening, our friend Sharkey arrived on schedule.  She did an overnight stay with us and left mid-day headed for base camp.  She and her friend, Marie, will be hiking on the Buckeye Trail.

160606eSharkey & Sylvia love the outdoors.

I think we were all tired.  While we enjoyed excellent conversation, it was a bit more subdued that normal.

Sylvia and I always look forward to Sharkey’s visits.  In the [relatively] few years that we have known her, she has become a  very special friend.  We have discovered many things that we share in common.

We particularly appreciated her willing and able hands on Monday morning.  Before breakfast, Sylvia and Sharkey did some weeding in the vegetable garden.  Afterward, she helped us as we secured the fence–making it bunny proof.  We are both very grateful for her helping hands and especially for her great sense of humor.

Joan’s Giveaway

Joan H Young at book signing

I met Joan several years ago online, mostly because we are both bloggers from Michigan.  I’ve enjoyed reading her posts on My Quality Day as they contain a lot of outdoor pix and, sometimes, some scientific info about the featured plant or animal.

Joan, aka Shark or Sharkey, is giving away this beautiful window pane afghan:

You can read more about the giveaway here: Shark Bytes and Tales.  While you are there you can read more about Joan and her published works.

The first book by Joan that I read was North Country Cache.  This is her story of hiking the entire North Country Trail.  Would You Dare? is a devotional that comprises twelve compact biographies of Christians who have dared.  I found that very inspirational.

My favorite is the Dead Mule Swamp Mysteries this series is available at Smashwords, or Amazon. You can also find it and more at Barnes and Noble.

Joan writes in an easy-to-read style.  I find her books tend to draw me in and I lose myself in the tale.  I urge you to check it out.  If you have a Nook or Kindle, The Hollow Tree at Dead Mule Swamp is available for free download.

It is not to late to win that afghan for your very own.  Check it out.

Promises, Promises

With this ring . . .

With this ring . . .

I renew vows every. single. day. It’s taking in the garbage cans or cutting the lawn. It’s small kindnesses and  forgiveness that show your commitment.

It started when our friend, Vanilla, posted Wedding Bands and Homemade Noodles on his blog.  He talks about coming home from a stay in the hospital.  His lovely wife brought him his wedding ring and said, “Let me put this ring on your finger again.”  There’s more to the story.  Click on the link to read it.

In response, our friend Lin said, “Sweet post today. I have never understood renewing your vows with a grand party and guests and fancy clothes and a big ballyhoo. I think you renew your vows every. single. day. I do. It’s taking the garbage cans in so he doesn’t have to…or cutting the lawn after work to make more relaxing time on the weekend. It’s small kindnesses and lots of forgiveness and letting things go that show your commitment.

Five years ago, as our 50th wedding anniversary was approaching, Sylvia and I began to talk about how we would celebrate the joyous occasion.  Our son said, “Why renew vows if you never broke them?”  I can’t disagree with that.  We weren’t going to do that anyway.  We did take a trip to Michigan’s upper peninsula.  We saw a couple of places we had never seen but had wanted to for a long time.

A couple of years ago, I began to pray something like this, “Dear Lord, you know how much I love my wife.  I tell her that several times each day.  Now, Lord, I ask you to help me show through my deeds how much I love her.”  After a couple of days (He waited to see if I was serious?), my answer came. “Keep your eyes open and you will see.”

I kept my eyes open and within an hour I saw what I could do.  (Why didn’t I see it years before?)

What I’m saying is that if marriage is an institution, I don’t mind being institutionalized.

 

Al to the Rescue

Last week we got hit with the second major winter storm in less than a week.

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I needed help on this one.  So I called Al.  A couple of hours later, he showed up as he had promised.

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That four-wheel drive truck will push a lot of snow.  And it did!

I’m grateful for a reliable backup at times like this.  Also grateful for good friends.

This Morning

I slept through sunrise, but our neighbors (Curt and Meghan) were up and at ’em.

Their picture.  Their house.

Their picture. Their house.

Meghan posted this today.  It is so strikingly beautiful that I had to share it with you.  In our neighborhood, this day is filled with sunshine and blue skies.  I hope yours is too.

Sunny Daze

She makes me smile.

She makes me smile.

This is the second day of sunny skies.  After an extended period of drab gray days.  It sure feels good.  And much good comes with it.

Yesterday, I received a call from the podiatrist’s office.  The recent blood test showed a very high white blood cell count.  They wanted me to come in right away.  I did.  I’m recovering well from the gout attack.  He ordered another blood test.

I saw the results (online) today.  White cell levels are back in the normal range.

Our friend, Vanilla, posted today.  Looks like he’ll be released from confinement next week.  I was feeling very good at this point.

A few minutes later, I was on my granddaughter’s FaceBook page.  She had posted a short video or her dancing with her father.  My spirits soared.  What a great day!