Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday morning from chilly Iowa! We left for vacation with nice fall temperatures and came back home to wind and cold.  Guess November weather is really here to stay!

Speaking of weather, did you see the news coverage on the massive typhoon that went through The Philippines.  So many people lost their lives.  It took us back to 1975 when we were living there and went through 7 typhoons in just 2.5 weeks.  Joel was a meteorologist in the Air Force and forecast weather for the pilots that flew to Viet Nam, among other places.  He said it was so strange to sit at the weather station on base~ no electricity~ no technology to help, but knowing the 100 mile an hour winds were wrecking havoc outside his windowless building.  We were not crazy about being apart during those times either!

Our house was solid.  It was built of cement blocks that were filled with wet cement that hardened.  It was not going anywhere, but water poured in under the doors and we stood at either door with brooms, sweeping the water back out as it poured in like a hose was under it trying to fill the house with water. 

We did have an unusual Thanksgiving that year because a typhoon hit that day, and due to the winds we had no electricity.  We also ran out of gas while cooking the turkey.  So Thanksgiving dinner consisted of Jello, chips, rolls, and half cooked turkey.  When we lost electricity we also lost the ability to flush toilets and the protection of the security lights on every corner of the home, plus the air conditioning.  Hot.  It was hot and humid.  We did have drinking water because that came from the base....it actually came from gasoline like pumps we would drive up to where we would fill large containers with water that was safe to drink.

Mostly we knew we were safe and sound while so many others were not.  A Filipino family lived in a field across from us and they took shelter in one of the American homes.  Many lost their lives due to flooding.  So, today's news had us lifting up the people in prayer and remembering the two years we lived there.  We came away with a greater knowledge of how very "wealthy" we all are as Americans, and the many blessings we had to be grateful for.

Speaking more of weather, yesterday we went for a walk at the park.  We woke up to 25 degrees and when we were at the park we noticed a thin layer of ice over the water there.  Yikes!  Winter is on its way and I am already wishing I was heading to Arizona along with my sister Jan and her hubby Lanny.  I really do not like winter anymore but must find the blessings in it, since this is where we call home.

Joel and I are recovering from our trip.  We are still keeping busy, but needing more naps and sleep. We had such a wonderful time.  God blessed us richly during our first real vacation in 25 years.  And the conference was life changing.  More on that another time.  We seem to be adjusting to how to take the "new" us and bring it into our old lives.  You can read about our great adventure here as I continue posting about it.

Joel is filling in tomorrow in the church he spent 10 years at, and then the next four Sundays he will fill in at a church 40 minutes away.  They are looking for an Interim but we are not feeling any direction yet from God on this one.  Joel interviewed there this past week, but we will see what comes.

I am already wanting to put out Christmas decorations!  This is sooooooooooooo not like me.  Usually I start that process around the 5th of December, but I have a feeling this year I will have a hard time waiting until after Thanksgiving!

I am reading The Jesus Book by Michael Koulanious.  He was one of the speakers at the conference on healing.  We have been listening to several teachings by Pastor Paul Teske and watching some TV.  What have you been up to?

Until next time......................