Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday morning to you from a town of 28,000 in north Iowa that we have called home now for 20 years.  Hard to believe, since we have never lived anywhere else more than 6 1/2 years in the nearly 48 years we have been married.  Did we think we would spend this much time here? Nope.  Did we think that in retirement we would be here?  Nope.  We thought we would be in Minnesota where we come from, or as we believed the past year, we would be in Arizona.  There is that quote............"life is what happens while you are making other plans..............'

Joel has been able to get out and bike some this week and we have walked several days.  The weather has been nice......not too hot nor too cold.  Sunshine or partly cloudy.   We have picked up one red hanging geranium to brighten up the front mini-garden, but the rest will wait for now. It is always nice to add color to our green environment.

Last Saturday we headed up to Edina MN (Mpls. area) to a birthday party for my older sister who helped raise me.  She turned 83 and had invited a lot of people from the area to gather at Davonni's, a pizza bistro.  Our son Mark went with us.  First we stopped at a Christian bookstore and I found a new easy to carry Bible while Joel picked up a book to help in his Bible 101 study he is writing.  Then we headed to Trader Joe's to stock up on a few essentials that we can buy for nearly half the price of here in our local stores.  Around 24 came to the party.  It was a nice time, with many stories being shared about where people were in their lives....especially the grands and great-grands.  Gr. Jo loves her family and is so proud of all of them and what they accomplish in their lives.

On Sunday night we headed to a new Bible study by John Ortberg on "The Me I Want To Be". Tuesday night we went to the final Bible study on Romans.  A nice group gathered at both. Otherwise we have been catching up on things around home.  Joel heads out early tomorrow to preach in NE Iowa at two churches where his friend Dan serves.  One hour and 20 minutes to drive to one and then he will head to the other before then going another 1 and 1/2 hrs west to an ordination of the son of another colleague, Randy.  Tomorrow night we have Bible study.  A long day for my hubby.

Sadly, Morley Safer died this week.  I can remember him on the news since the beginning of time...........well my adult time at least.  Ha.   I think he was on 60 Minutes for 40 plus years. Wow.

Our friend Barb is finishing up 6 months of chemo this next week.  We are so happy that this phase of her treatment is going to be over.  She has shown great courage on her journey battling cancer. We are praying she will continue to be cancer free.  I remember the last day of radiation.  When I left, there was a bell to ring and several of the staff stood and clapped while tears ran down my face.  And chemo is so much tougher.  I hope they celebrate!  They plan to go camping in N. MN so restoration will begin in nature for her.  For them.  Peace, friends.  Peace and joy!

Speaking of nature, we have already talked to one couple about Lyme this Spring, trying to answer their questions. Another couple who both suffer with chronic Lyme want to meet with us again.  I say again, because we connected with the woman when we gave the seminar on Lyme and healing last April 2015.  Be aware, check for ticks diligently, while enjoying the warmer weather!

I have been listening to some of Bethel's conference this past week on creativity and the arts.  It was great and helpful.  I have also taken in a few teachings on renewing your mind, and am reading the book The Shack again, along with Under The Tuscan Son.  What are you reading?

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