On The Road Again

And we’re off! Last night we stayed in Mitchell, SD at the KOA. It was HOT but thank goodness for air conditioning in our camper. A few minutes ago we passed Rapid City with a quick, tiny glimpse of our beloved Black Hills.

Tonight we’ll stay in Buffalo, WY. Another 202 miles from the moment I’m typing this. 

Crocheting another baby diamonds blanket as we roll on down the road.

Pilot and Co-pilot.😂💜

Tomorrow we’ll be in Montana and we’ll see our oldest two grandchildren and our son. Yay! It’s been a year and that’s too long for us.

Take care and I’ll be back soon. May the Lord watch over you and give you His peace.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him all ye Heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

Hot Again

We’ve had a busy, busy week. Dennis had a blood draw last Monday for an appointment this coming Monday.  On Wednesday I had facet injections in my back. I'm happy to report that they worked great! The doctor told me that I may get 6-8 hours of relief, but I actually ended up good until the next day. They told me to push it and do everything that would normally cause me pain and spasms. So I came home and made homemade noodles for chicken and noodles, deviled eggs and cut up a bunch of veggies for salads. Then I spent about 4 hours on my laptop, standing at the kitchen island. All in all, I spent about 10 hours on my feet. Normally I can't stand in one spot for more than 15-20 minutes before spasms are so bad that I'm flat on my back, sometimes for days. I was amazed that it worked so well. It was VERY painful and was considered an inpatient procedure.

As soon as we're home from our trip I'll have another set of injections. They already have it scheduled. If these work as well, I'll have an ablation of the nerves done. Hallelujah! I'm so excited. I've dealt with this for over 10 years and I'm ready for some relief. Possibly bike riding and hiking with Dennis again.

I did make three new dishcloths. I needed a few new ones. Mine aren't worn out, they seem to last forever. But they're faded and and I'm tired of them!

They were made with Hobby Lobby's "I love This Cotton" in Teal using the Wattle Stitch and an J hook.

The blanket I showed you last time is finished, but still not blocked. That will happen tomorrow.

Kristina from the Pioneer Woman at Heart blog asked me for a link to the Grace Baby Blanket that I've had on my blog several times.  I'm not good at links so I sure hope it works for you Kristina. This is a free pattern on Ravelry. Enjoy!
https://ravel.me/grace-blanket-3

Another Baby Diamonds blanket has been started.

Here's my pretty Piper. She's wearing a necklace made by our oldest granddaughter Kyleigh who lives in Montana. She has started an Etsy shop to try to earn money to help with college expenses. She said she has one that she made for me that she'll give to me next week when we see her. It's been a year since we've seen her and our grandson, Caleb. I think she does a beautiful job with these necklaces and love that Piper has one made by her cousin. It's hard to believe that she's 20 now and will soon begin her third year of college.

Today was the beginning of the judging for this years 4H projects for the county fair. This is the outfit that Piper submitted. Everything had to be thrifted and under a budget. I actually bought her the dress at Goodwill a couple of months ago. Her other grandma bought her the boots at a thrift store last week. The belt she found for $1.24! It's supposed to be a "country look". I think she's super cute.

Well, we leave Monday on our month-long camping trip. I haven't packed much yet because we already have most of our food except refrigerator stuff in the trailer. Clothes will be washed tomorrow afternoon so we have everything available. We don't own that many clothes. Each time we moved, we got rid of a LOT of clothes. You usually wear the same things all of the time anyway. Each time we go camping every season it gets a bit easier because things are already there. The first few trips are definitely hit or miss. I've been hearing that the three big mountains seems to be "waking up". I hope not. Those mountains are Mt Hood, Mt St Helen's and Mt Ranier in Washington and Oregon. We'll be near to all of them. Yikes! Well, we'll just put our trust and hope in God and if something happens, we already know where we're going so it's all good. :-)

It's SO hot here again. It will be a relief to be back into the mountains with lower humidity even if it's still hot. Today it felt like a steam bath/sauna out there. We really miss living in the mountains when it's like this. I hope it's a bit cooler wherever you are! :-)

Take care and I'll try to post while on the road.

Blessings and love,

O THAT WILL BE GLORY

by: Charles H Gabriel

1. When all my labors and trials are o’er,
   And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
   Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
   Will through the ages be glory for me.
   • Refrain:
     Oh, that will be glory for me,
     Glory for me, glory for me,
     When by His grace I shall look on His face,
     That will be glory, be glory for me.
2. When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
   I am accorded in heaven a place,
   Just to be there and to look on His face,
   Will through the ages be glory for me.
3. Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
   Joy like a river around me will flow;
   Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
   Will through the ages be glory for me.

Lazy Days of Summer

Good Morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We did. It’s been so hot here, and finally on Saturday we had a beautifully cool and breezy day. It was only 85°F for the high and low humidity. Dennis and I spent most of the day outside on a secret mission that I hope to tell you about in a future post. Meanwhile, I’ve been making the final arrangements and reservations for our month long camping trip that begins next Monday.

My car is in the body shop this week getting the front fender replaced. Let’s just say it had an unfortunate connection with the bullyard by our garage door. And no, I wasn’t driving! Ha! It has taken them months to get the part in and of course it arrives the week before we leave, when we have all the last minute errands to get done.

Dennis is at the doctor this morning getting blood work done for a doctor appointment he has next Monday morning right before we leave. On Wednesday morning, I’m having injections in my back to see if that helps with the spasms and pain. I’ve had injections before when we lived in Spokane that never worked, but this is a different kind so I’m praying that there will be relief. Medicare is requiring they do two sessions of these injections before they will approve a nerve ablation. We shall see. I’m not getting my hopes up because it’s been one disappointment after another.

I don’t have a lot to show you today, but I did go shopping with Miss Piper last week and one of the places we ended up was Hobby Lobby. I found this birdhouse on the clearance shelf for $5.49. It stands about 10 inches high and 6 inches wide so it’s bigger than it looks in the photo. I fell in love with it because look! It’s a beehive. It looks so pretty at night with the lights I put inside. This will definitely not be going outside. 

And my orchid is blooming profusely and there are still more buds yet to open. I am enjoying them so much. I love that they are in my favorite color too.

I finished another “Eventually a Granny” baby blanket for the Open Door Mission. It’s about 37 inches square.

And I’ve begun another baby diamond blanket. I really enjoy this pattern. It’s easily memorized and you can mix up the colors any way you want.

I still have my plain-vanilla socks on the needles and have turned the heel on the second sock, so it should be finished fairly quickly. That’s what I work on when I’m waiting at doctors appointments, so the socks take longer than they would if I just knitted straight through a pair.

This is for your morning laugh! I found this absolutely hilarious.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer or if you’re down south, winter!  My prayers are still with all of the flood victims in Texas and elsewhere, and indeed, with all of the people suffering around the world. The violence that we’re seeing here in the United States just breaks my heart. I wish people could see and understand that violence never solves anything. My prayer is that they would turn their hearts over to the Lord. He is the answer to having peace in our hearts and hope for the future.

I’ll see you all again soon.

Blessings and love

Betsy

PRAISE HIM, PRAISE HIM

By: Fanny Crosby

1 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth– His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory;
strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children;
in His arms He carries them all day long.

Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.
Praise Him! Praise Him ever in joyful song!

2 Praise Him, praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation—
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus, the Crucified!
Sound His praises! Jesus, who bore our sorrows!
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong. [Refrain]

3 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious;
pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong! [Refrain]

Happy Birthday U.S.A.!

I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July holiday. Ours was very, very quiet. In fact, I stayed in my jammies all day long. In the evening Mandy texted and told us about the PBS special “The National Fourth of July.” I had completely forgotten about it. We have watched it most years. We watched the great entertainment and enjoyed the fireworks in D.C. very much. The fireworks here locally have been absolutely ridiculous. They were still going off at 1:30 this morning and Zoey is terrified. Lizzie too. She won’t even go outside this morning to go potty. Whenever we suggest it she starts starts shaking and runs and hides under the bed. This has been going on for over a week now and I expect it to continue for several more nights. I don’t know what people are thinking. I guess they aren’t thinking about other people at all. I feel so bad for people who have babies and small children. The entire condo was shaking from the cherry bombs, etc. that were going off until the early hours of the morning.

I thought I would show you a few of my decorations this morning before I put them away. Of course, this is one of my favorites! Let’s go camping!

Happy birthday America!

In God, we trust! Always and forever. And look! My orchids are blooming again.



These are the kind of fireworks I like! I love the beautiful tray that I received for my birthday from my blogging friend Pam in Florida. Her talented son Benton made it for me.

May He always shed His grace on us here in the United States of America. We don’t always live our lives in a Godly way and conduct ourselves accordingly, but I pray for His forgiveness for our nation.

I have been rather lazy about crafting this week because it’s been so hot and the thought of touching yarn is sometimes unbearable, but I did manage to finish three pair of mittens.

and I started another “Eventually a Granny” baby blanket yesterday.

Curt and Barb are coming over for dinner tonight. We’re planning to have Mexican lasagna, salad, bread, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Otherwise it will be another quiet day today. And just a little over two weeks we’ll be on our way again, westward this time. We’re getting very excited to see our son and grandchildren in Montana. Since we moved to Omaha, it’s only a once a year opportunity. Then we’ll be spending a few weeks in Spokane visiting with our friends there.

I hope you’re all surviving these hot days of summer. It’s been absolutely miserable here with very high humidity. However, compared to the tragedies in Texas are struggle is minor. Please join me in praying for the families of the people who are still missing and that have been lost.

Blessings and love,

Betsy 

The Battle Hymn of the Republic
by Julia Ward Howe

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

Chorus:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

Chorus

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.”

Chorus

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Chorus

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Chorus

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.

Chorus