Me and Tom Jefferson!!!

Headline from my local newspaper: Nervous calm grips...

Headline: Nervous calm grips Fallujah as residents return (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1/11/14)

Here are excerpts from the article...

- residents trickling back...
- a tense calm...
- Iraqi troops have taken up positions...
- other ant-government gunmen, their faces hidden by scarves...
- Markets have begun to open...
- situation remains tense...
- health care facilities running short on supplies...


This article really struck me and made me wonder how we would react to conditions of war right here in the United States.  Of course, we have the Civil War to look back on as a war fought on our own continental soil, and much has been written about that period in our history, but that war occurred 150 years ago.  There are no longer any survivors to lend an immediacy to our lives today.

It's tragic to think of ourselves having to flee our homes, seeing them destroyed, losing family members, going hungry, having to rely on others to take care of us, and so on...

We surely need to pray for these unfortunate people (men, women and children) who have so much to endure in so many countries around the world.  We need to thank God for all that has been given to us: for our lives, our work, our worship, each other. And we need to work for peaceful solutions to problems, rather than having to read headlines like the one above.

After all, we are brothers and sisters.  We all bleed the same color.  We all have hopes and dreams for ourselves and our families.  We may call our God by different names or by none at all, but He knows our needs and cares for us even when we think that no one's there...

Our God relies on us to be His workers in the world... to continue to bring about His Kingdom... Looks like we're falling down on the job, don't-cha think?



~ Image - Salon.com

New Year's Resolutions Revisited

Last year I made a New Year's resolution to fill an empty jar with notes reminding myself of the good things that happened to me.  I was checking out the jar today and here are some of the events that were special.

~ I have been placed in a prayer note on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem by C.

~ K called to let us know that Ricky's $5000-plus hospital bill has been cancelled!

~ Ricky has been walking without his cane or brace today.

~ A sent papers for me to correct.

~ I fell in the street at church but didn't break anything!

~ Wonderful trip to see the grandkids.

~ I sold over $130 worth of jewelry to one customer today!

~ I found the church keys!  Whew!

~ David survived a serious low blood sugar event.  Thank you Lord.

~ Someone complimented me AGAIN about how well organized my book shop is!

~ Ricky got his disability approved!  Thank you Lord.


These constituted about 6 months worth of notes.  I didn't finish the year as I had hoped but will begin again this year.  You should try it!  All you need is an empty jar, placed where you can see it as a reminder to write a little note to yourself.

Aaaaahhhhh! Clever!

I saw this cartoon on Facebook the other day and I knew I had to put it on my blog.  I guess this is one way to entice kids to start reading again.  Notice I said "again"... this is rather hopeful, I guess.

I doubt if it's news to anyone reading this blog that I love to read.  Another year has gone by and my list of books reached 45 books for the year; not quite as good as my all-time high as an adult, of 61 books the previous year.  But no matter, the important thing is to keep reading.

At my age, I'm not too hung up on the fact that I forget most of the books I read, since I read just for the pleasure of the moment.  What my reading does, is to keep my mind active; and believe me, at 77 I can use a clear brain!  Not in the sense of a brain that is drained; but a brain that still functions for most of the things that I need to know and want to do.  Hey, I run a vintage and collectible shop!  I at least have to remember how to add and subtract; without using a calculator either!  I don't make too many mistakes since I'm still in business after 11 or 12 years!

Actually, I do more than read books.  I also read our daily newspaper and work the crossword puzzle.  I also read a lot online... and I still "tsk, tsk" to myself about all the misspellings I see there... One of the things I have enjoyed over the years is to proofread other people's writings for publication or for important mailings.  It's very interesting to do and I catch a lot of grammar or spelling errors that need correcting.  We all make mistakes at times but if something is going out to the world, one hopes it will be right!

What do you think about reading books, newspapers and periodicals online?  For my own sake, I need to have these things in my hands... to feel the paper and turn the pages...  To put the book down when I feel like it...  take it up again wherever I am.  I can't imagine taking a laptop, Kindle or other contraption to bed with me.  It's gotta be a BOOK!