New Blogger

The other day I put out a challenge in my email and my neice, Stephanie has now joined the blogging world. Check her out in the links to the right. Welcome Steph!

God and the Spider

I don't know where the following story originated but I got it in an email and thought it is too good not to share. So many times I have been surprised at how God answers my cries for help. But let me shut up. The story speaks for itself.

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.

"Hah", he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, "In God we will have success!" [Nehemiah 2:20]

Remember: Whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is with you always. Just speak His name through Jesus His Son and you will see His great power and love for you.

Cracked Eggs

"A true friend is someone who knows you are a good egg, even if you are a little cracked."

I love reading quotes like this one that I got in an email, and also bumper stickers, signs, and other cute sayings. Some of them are just so funny that I laugh til I cry and others are so much more profound than they seem on the surface.

At first glance the quote above made me smile because if there ever was an egg with some cracks, I'm it. Then I thought about how blessed I have been my whole life with wonderful friends who love me in spite of my cracks. God in His graciousness always puts a friend in my life for whatever purpose that I am needful of. Some friends have been for a moment or a day, some for a season, and some for a lifetime. Some have been there for a certain situation and some have been there for the long haul or as I call it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Whether the friendship has been for a lifetime or only for a few short minutes, there are some people that I just seem to connect with and remember for a long time. Once as I waited at a doctor's appointment I talked with a kindred soul who had also been widowed several years. We connected because of the event which transformed our lives even though we may never meet again on this earth.

Which brings up a thought that delights me no end. In eternity I will get to meet and talk to all the people I have ever wished I had known. Won't it be a wonderful time?

Now for all of you who laughed because you know I am a cracked egg, take a look at yourself. You know you are too. You're smiling aren't you?

New Puppies

It seems the family has grown this weekend. My brother got two new boxer puppies today. His beloved Johann got killed about a week ago so maybe raising these puppies will help him feel better. Who can resist those faces?

Mammaw's Angels

What a good time we all have when my girls all come to Mammaw's house. Kristy came out to help me put up some squash and Lilly tried out a new walker with sister Abby supervising the project.

Hey, Diana It's Hump Day

Thank God for Wednesdays. At noon you can breathe a sigh of relief and say, "It's half over." Now the rest of the work week is on the downhill side and the mood definitely lightens. One of my coworkers has a sign on her desk which says, "I work for the weekend." I may adopt that as my motto.

Now Diana thinks I am kin to Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde but actually my mood goes along with the frequency of my hot flashes. Which means you can gauge my mood by the redness of my face.

Once again this is a bunch of gibberish which no one else will probably find of any interest. But hey, I wrote another blog to keep you coming back (hopefully). Which brings up another thought. If you read please leave a comment now and then letting me know how brilliant you think I am. My ego needs this feedback.

I Hate Mondays

I hate Mondays at work. The phone rings constantly, my desk is piled to the ceiling, everyone needs something, and I'm about to scream. That is I would scream if I could. Instead I just have to bitch and moan. At least it is lunch time and the day is half over. By in the morning I will be my sweet self again and not the Monday morning hateful old hag. Beware, my claws are out!

If You Can't Run With The Big Dogs, Stay On The Porch

Poor Jack learned a lesson yesterday that had him sick, depressed and his "big dog in a small dog's body" attitude had been crushed. For the past several nights there has been a pack of stray dogs (large wild looking dogs) running the neighborhood where I live. This is not in town, so don't get all alarmed. When I let Jack out to do his business he would find the pack, join it and be gone for hours. Gypsy on the other hand lost her wanderlust and just stayed in my lap anytime I was home.

Yesterday when I got home from work I was surprised to find Jack at home since he had been staying out with the bad dogs until bedtime. His head was hanging, his eyes were drooping, he was sneezing, his belly was red and blotchy and he looked like he had been dragged through a briar patch. He looked worse than the day I rescued him two years ago.

He usually loves canned dog food but was too tired to even eat. After he slept, with his legs trembling and jerking, he got up and ate the dog food. Then I got out the trusty Benadryl and shoved that down his throat. By bedtime he was nearly himself again and I got a full nights sleep for the first time all week. Whatever happened cured him of scratching on the door, barking and begging to go outside which happened every time the wild dogs came into my yard.

It was quite a dilemma for me since I have been a dog lover all my life. How do I protect Jack and Gypsy from these dogs? I did not have the heart to shoot them and was too afraid of them to try and catch them. Also I was not sure if they all belonged to some of the neighbors and got together and decided to try the wild side of life. So I came up with the loud noise, scare them away solution which came in the shape of firecrackers. After three nights of throwing a firecracker into the yard, they seem to have gotten the hint that they are not welcome.

So the moral of this story is as the title says, "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch." Jack did.

Home from Conference

Well, we had a wonderful conference and a good time to boot! After checking in Tuesday night, we were off to Ryan's. Of course, we over did it so the next stop was mini golf to work some of the food off. The only time it rained while we were gone was starting at the 13th hole. We were having such a good time that we just kept playing and giggling. I wonder if a stately hotel like the Arlington has ever had three drowned rats as guests? They have now!

The conference started Wednesday morning and we had a good opening session. It is always good to see the people I have met before and also to meet new friends. We got out early enough to get in a little shopping and then Red Lobster. Once again we were full so we went back to the hotel, rested a few minutes and then started streetwalking. Oops, I meant walking downtown to see the sights and shops and try to walk off supper.

During our excursion we came across Maxine's. For any of you who may be interested, it is on the south (I think) end of Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs and has a very colorful history. It was operated as a saloon, gambling hall and brothel in the 1900's. It also seems that Maxine died in Warren which is a neighboring town near home. We hit it lucky since the week before Maxine's had started a weekly local blues band session. I was in heaven! We got there just as they got started and stayed for three hours of very good entertainment for only a $2.00 cover charge. I may retire and start a blues club in downtown Monticello. We surely have some talent here also and it is too far to drive to Hot Springs each Wednesday night.

Thursday was very informational as we broke off into different small sessions. My favorite was the Sex Offender Registry class. The lady in charge of this department at ACIC is a retired police chief and she is very interesting in her presentations. I think I would enjoy working for her if I lived in Little Rock.

Friday morning was long since by then we were all about ready to go home. The last meal was at Cracker Barrel and then a flying trip home. Jack and Gypsy were overjoyed to see me and I was overjoyed to be home. Abby spent the night and we slept in until ten this morning.

Once again I have had a memorable week and am glad to be alive to enjoy the life that God has provided. Ain't life grand!!!