COMMON GROUND COFFEE HOUSE #81

[Debby in Philly]

Beautiful day in Philly today!
Not like all the rain yesterday.

My heart is heavy for all the trouble and illness reported here. I pray God will touch each one with the peace they need, and healing as it pleases Him. He uses our afflictions as well as our healings. May He give us the grace to discern His wisdom and seek His will.

Anyway, had my VBS staff meeting last night, and some of my staff are more than a little resistant to change. The worst one is a 26-year-old! And I thought "old" people were supposed to be more inclined to be that way! The curriculum calls for collections of small groups of 5 kids of mixed ages, each working with a young adult or teen, rather than age-group classes. The concept of asking each small group in your room (4 at most) to take 5 minutes and discuss something lesson related amoung themselves and then report back is making him act as though I've asked him to jump off a roof! "I can't control them that way!" he says. Yikes! That's what the group leaders are for. What a pain. I hope he comes around before VBS.

What sort of lawn ornaments do you have Sue? Flamingos, animals, jockeys? Flamingos are the rage here. I don't have any though. Just groundhogs. Watched one last night at dusk munching on my mulberries. Cute little thing. My cat didn't think so however. He wanted to go chase it. Hmmm...cat vs. grounghog. I wonder who would win?

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Hi Debby! You just caught me on my way outside!

I buy my lawn ornaments unpainted and paint them myself. They are either concrete or plaster.

The winter pitted some of them and they need repainting.

I have a life-size dalamtion (chained to the clothesline post - lol) with his own fire hydrant painted red/white/blue.

A matching set of a Dutch boy and girl.

A leprechaun.

A gnome.

A large cactus with a large cow's skull (including horns).

Two matching bears, three-feet-high, guarding each side of my front porch. They are holding signs. One says, "Wipe yer paws here", and the other says, "Hugs - 5¢ each".

Got to get painting!

§ue

 

[Debby in Philly]

Wow, you must have a big lawn!
Is it the gnome like in the Travelocity commercials?

 

[dianetavegia]

We had a white bench and small table out front when we first moved in (one of the first families in the subdivision) and a U-Haul came through one night and stole everything everyone had out plus went into homes being built and took down front doors, sinks, windows..... We never replaced it. I have a 'pump' water fountain in my backyard but that's it other than my 3 birdbaths and many feeders.

 

[PebblePie]

I have yet to figure out just how to use this board.... I get lost in al the different areas and can't find my way back!
I'm new... I was just reading about "Gnomes" and a large yard...
I "think" Moderator above #5169 ~ guided me to this spot... But I'm not sure, someone did.
Well I'm going to bookmark this page, so when I come back, I can see if this is where I'm suppose to be... be patient w/me please... I want to get to know everybody. (I'm just so swamped, my brain is in overdrive)

 

[PebblePie]

Oh PS...
I saw a story on this board somewhere about Zombie Dogs, and I put it on my own site... It's out there on the net (and I ref it from it's origin, not frm here), so that's O.K. right? I won't be stepping on anybodies toes?

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Hi Pebs! I invited you and I'm glad you came. This is THE place to get to know everyone! It's fine if you link to the original source and not to the BB.

Diane: Hubby buried cement blocks in the ground and then glued my ornaments to them. No one can steal them now without a backhoe...

Debby: My gnome is only about 1½ feet high. He is setting on a mushroom with his arms around his knees.

Most of my indoor decorations for the different holidays are made out of plaster that I painted also.

 

[dianetavegia]

HI Pebble. You can click on forum home above and will go to the main page. Today's Active Topics will show the most recent posts. Clicking on my profile will let you view where you've posted recently and clicking on the Baptist Board open book logo will take you to another set of most recent posts.

 

[PebblePie]

Thanks! That's a good start and great direction.
So above me we have 5169 in IL (lived in Joliet, IL, when in 8th and 9th grade). Have driven through, GA... I remember we got a little lost and asked for directions, but could not understand the man trying to help us, his southern accent was that thick...lol

 

[dianetavegia]

Well Pebble, it probably wasn't his accent but his directions! I was born and raised in the south and cannot for the life of me follow directions that include... 'Y'all know where the drive in movie the-ate-ur was back in '47? Well turn down there atowards Billy Joe's pig farm that dun burnt down when granny's still blew up to high heav'n. Go a fur piece down that there road and y'alls gonna come down to where Uncle Roy has his boilt peanut stand during turist season and it's gonna be about jest down the road frum there. Cain't miss it!

I'm edjumacated. I took Social Graces at Bessie Tift Baptist Women's College back in the good ole days.

 

[AVL1984]

Sue, praying for your granddaughter. Praying for all others as well. Seems like the Devil is fighting hard against the Christian community through health, but I'm thankful the Jesus is the great physician and the one who keeps us going!

Even in times of sorrow, sickness, frustration and anger, God is there. He DOES understand. It's a great comfort and cheers my heart to know we have a high priest who is touched by all that touches us.

I'll be on and off for the next few days. Pray for us as we seek Gods guidance in whether or not to try and make the trip to GA this week or to wait a week and just have Viv's sis overnight everything to us. I love the verses in the Bible where it says "And it came to pass!" This too shall pass!

T

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Ember came through her tests all right. She was very good about it. They put dye in her arm in the middle of it all. She was there for several hours.

They wouldn't tell them anything except to be sure and see the doctor on the 7th.

A temporary hearing aid was ordered and will be in Friday.

Thanks for all the praying folks, and please keep it up 'til the results are back.

Brent and I are going to watch a movie so I will say good night and pleasant dreams!

§ue

 

[dianetavegia]

Tony, I like this verse....

Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. 26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. 28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart

 

[AVL1984]

Morning all:

Diane, I like that, too!

Having a lot of pain in the back and leg today. They said that is normal. Steroids won't kick in for a few days and so the pain pills and the patch will have to suffice until they do kick in.

Vivian and I got a call last night saying that they found more cancer all throughout Viv's mom's body. It looks pretty bad. She's starting chemo and radiation this morning. We're not going to be able to go down there right now. I can't physically handle it, and Vivian can't afford to lose the time from work. She was relieved when I asked if we could wait to go. She's having everything overnighted up here so we can pay the bills, etc., and try to catch up on her life insurance policies so that there will be money for a plot. There won't be enough for a casket, so I don't know what we're going to do. We're praying about that now. We're also praying we're not going to have to pull money out of Viv's 401K or sell any of her stock to help pay these things since her sisters are all broke, and the one is without a job and ready to lose the condo she bought last year.

Again, we know God is in control and worrying isn't going to change anything. Pray God will continue to give us wisdom in what to do.

It's 70 degrees here and quite foggy. It rained really hard here last evening for about 30 minutes though the sun was shining. Got quite steamy. But, it was great for the plants. Thank the Lord for that! Our tomato's are growing bigger and we're hoping that we have a good harvest. We've got neighbors to repay for their kindness in letting us use their tiller, and church folk who helped us with our lawn. God has been so good to us, His unworthy children.

Peace and blessings.

T

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

Good morning all:

It is 73º already and heading for a high of 98º! We had a 30% 'chance' of rain last night, but nothing happened. Illinois is having a terrible drought. The farmers won't make much money this year, which means the prices will go up next year!

I will be staying in the house today. We are throwing one of my friends a surprise 50th birthday party this evening at our favorite 'mom and pop' restaurant. I will have to go out for that, but I will still be in A/C.

§ue (going to water the garden and flowers)

 

[menageriekeeper]

Good Morning Ya'll!

Tony, is your MIL particular about where she is laid to rest? If not and someone close has the time to look, it is possible to still find and "open" cemetary. These are usually small church cemetaries out in the country. Our plots are in an open cememtary, marked there be my MIL's father years and years ago. However folks have donated and donated property to the original cemetary, so there is still plenty of land there for new grave.


I'd love to stay inside today, but the glorious contractors that Alabama Power saw fit to hire, have decided that today is the day that they are going to hook us up to the new power lines they've been running. What time have they chosen to do this? From noon to 5 pm, right in the heat of they day.

I've turned the air way down in hopes that if we start cooler that it'll stay cool enough in the house that the critters won't suffer. It's getting kind of cold in here, but I know how hot it gets during the afternoon in the living room where the guinea pigs are.

I'm going to take the kids to a friends house, during this time so they won't be tempted to open the fridge and freezer.

I'll see ya'll this evening when the power's back on.

Stay cool.......

 

[AVL1984]

Sue, you have fun. I wish we had more mom and pop restaurants here. Most of the eating establishments are chains and they really aren't all the great. Poor customer service, bad food, etc. Oh for the days of a great greasy spoon!

MK, the place where my MIL was supposed to be buried, next to her husband, was a donated spot, but someone accidentally buried someone there about ten years ago. There are still spots there, and I'm sure she could probably be buried there a few rows away from Viv's dad. I believe it is owned by one of their relatives anyhow. I may have her contact them this week and find out.

We've been looking in our area for plots. With my health problems, it's becoming more and more evident that one day we will need to be buried somewhere. I wouldn't mind being buried out here. I know I don't want to be buried in Pekin, Illinois where I grew up. I also don't want to be buried in Georgia, which I consider my "home" state because of my wife. We consider Tennessee our final "home" state because we've come to love it here and the people as well. It took a long time, but the Lord had to build down some walls and show me that this is exactly where HE wants me. It's so much better to be where God wants us though we might not love the particular place in the beginning. God can always change our wanter and what we love. We have many graveyards around here, in fact, we've got two on this road alone and six within two miles of us. We laughingly call it 'The Dead Zone'. I'd love to be buried anywhere out here. There are many Civil War era graves, and I'd be honored to be buried anywhere near a Civil War Rebel.

I did finally get an hour or so rest. Still tired and sore, but I'll live.

Wow, now it's 93 here and it's only 10:30. It's gonna be a scorcher!

T

 

[menageriekeeper]

Wow! I must not have been the only busy person today. I can't believe no one's been here since this morning!

I'll just put on a fresh pot of coffee and some water for tea and open this bag of nice fresh chocolate chip cookies and see who shows up.

The power outage evidently went just fine without us. It was back on when we got home and not too hot in the house.

My hands have decided that I've done to much yardwork this week and they are sore! I hate it but I have more work to be done before I'm finished. They'll just have to hurt.

Time to go fix supper.....

 

[dianetavegia]

It clouded up here today and I laid down for a nap. When I awoke, the sun was coming through this t.v. room window and it was terribly hot! Still no rain here either, Cindi! I don't see any for either of us on the local radar.

Saturday is to be terribly hot so we WILL close up by afternoon and use our air until the temp drops in the evening. Jim's out in the heat all week and Nick and I are used to it but when it stays well over 90° outside, we do give in.

Our daughter and son in law are getting along really well and talk of divorce has ended. We are so thrilled. I talked with the mother in law tonight for quite a while. They're so happy too.

Wednesday... hmmm... wonder what's on t.v. tonight?

 

[menageriekeeper]

Don't know about TV, but I've got a new murder mystery to read.

Our highs will be in the high 80's to the low 90's on into next week. My water bill is going to be sky high if it doesn't rain soon. It is getting very dry here.

Diane when I was a kid we didn't have air conditioning, only fans. Poor T though grew up with it and now he can't stand the heat. We keep the house cool all summer. He'd rather pay the electric bill than be hot. Oh well, he works for it so I guess it's his decision.

Time for supper...