Monday, Monday

 Good Morning my friends. Life just doesn't seem to slow down does it? We have been busy around here since returning home. Dinners with friends, appointments, etc. I have been busy cross-stitching on our new granddaughter Baby W's birth announcement. I'm to the point where all I have left is the outlining and personalization but that will also take a few days. I've been staying up until the wee hours of the morning working on it. Mandy has knitted a sweet little hat and booties set for her and I want to get them all in the mail before little Baby W outgrows them.

I haven't picked up yarn and a hook or needles for days except during Sunday school yesterday when I was able to knit on my "take along" socks.

We canceled our trip to Salt Lake City next month. With the cost of diesel right now, we decided that going to Spokane later in the summer was more important to us than to a camping meet up of people we don't know at all. We're still plan on going to the Tulip Festival next month in Pella, Iowa and taking Piper to the Black Hills Memorial Day week. We're sure hoping that prices fall back to normal before the big trips. 

I thought I would share the four projects that I made while we were in Texas last month. First is a shawl for the hospital oncology unit. A simple granny stitch that I put a single crochet border around.

Here is the virus shawl I asked in a previous post if anyone knew the pattern. Cindy at "The Delighted Hands" blog sent me the link for the blanket. Thanks Cindy! I don't know why mine is a bit wrinkled but I'll try again sometime and hopefully it will be better. Notice it's the same yarn as the shawl. I was limited in what I took on the trip. :-)

This is the V-stitch baby blanket that my friend Terri at the "YarnJoy" YouTube podcasts made. Her's was just like this, ruffled too. I ripped this one out three times and started completely over before throwing up my hands and just completing it, ruffles and all.

And this one was using up all of my tiny bits of yarn I had left. I finished it just a few miles from home. 

The only one of these projects that turned out like I intended was the shawl. All three small blankets were a bit of a disappointment. My tension was right. The patterns were followed and they still look pretty wonky. 

On a happier note, we made it to a place we both love the second day we were in Galveston. Buccee's! It was lunchtime and Dennis had a brisket sandwich while I chose pulled pork. We had banana pudding for dessert and of course bought 2 bags of Beaver Nuggets. One for us and one for Curt and Barb who love them too. We're supposed to be getting the first Buccee's in Nebraska this fall right outside of Omaha, not too far from us. That could be dangerous. :-)

This bird was a metal sculpture between our RV park and Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. It was huge and I have no idea what it is! I always find art works like this on our travels to be fascinating.

Oh my, we're missing this view. It was 33F here two days ago. Today it is supposed to be 89F and it's VERY humid. I ended up turning the AC on already because we were sticking to the floors when we walked across the wood. Paper and towels were very damp when we picked them up too. I'm thinking this means storms somewhere this afternoon, but I don't think they are predicted in our area. It's pretty early for this heat and humidity though. It's supposed to be much cooler again in a couple of days.

Miss Piper missed three days of school last week with some kind of bug. She went back on Friday and even ran track after school! We didn't see her over the weekend. She still had the sniffles but the biggest reason was because she had TON'S of homework from missing those three days. We did FaceTime for awhile with her and Mandy yesterday afternoon and she read me some poetry she had written for class. It was really good. That girl. She has my heart. I love her so much. It's wonderful to be part of her life by living so close.

I hope you all have a wonderful week planned. Dennis is at the camper this morning, remaking the bed after I washed the sheets. He had a few other chores planned there too. He enjoys going there and "puttering" around the camper, planning the next trip. Normally I would go with him, but I really want to get this cross stitch done, plus I needed to get a blog post up to say hello to all of you!

We have a funeral this Saturday at church for a 91 year old man that I've known my entire life. For many years he was the fire chief on the volunteer department in the small town I grew up in. My brothers were both volunteer firemen too and one was the fire inspector. Dennis and I will be working at the lunch where they are expecting around 300 people. That's a LOT of food! Carl's wife was my Girl Scout leader and I graduated with one of his daughters. We've stayed in contact with them over our 30 years in Spokane.

It's strange, after living across the country for 30 years, we came back and picked up our life almost as it was before, minus our kids being grown. Same church, many of the same friends. It's almost like those 30 years didn't happen. Then we go back to Spokane to visit and it's like we're still there. Strange indeed.

I'm stilling praying continually or all of those involved in wars and conflicts around the world and those being persecuted by evil men. I'm so glad that I have the hope of the Lord living in my and the Holy Spirit guiding my heart. I pray for each of you too, my dear friends. I hope you know Him. The giver of Life abundant.

Blessings and Love,

Betsy

ABIDE WITH ME

TEXT:

Henry Lyte, Justin Smith

MUSIC:

Justin Smith

1. Abide with me; falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, abide with me.

2. Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, though I oft left Thee,
On to the close Lord, abide with me.

3. I need Thy presence, every passing hour.
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness
Where is thy sting death? Where grave thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.

5. Hold Thou Thy cross, before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me.

He Is Risen Just As He Said

Easter Blessings to Each One of You!

Betsy

Hello! Long time, no see.

I seem to have dropped off the face of the earth didn't I. Not really, but it was hard to get online and after trying over and over with no luck, I finally gave up and just enjoyed being with Dennis and doing absolutely nothing. Well, I did crochet 3 baby blankets and a shawl that I'll show you next time. Right now I'll just show some of the beautiful scenery we experienced. We arrived home a little after 4:00 pm yesterday, unpacked the truck, started laundry and went to the Good Friday service at church at 7:00. We were exhausted last night. It rained off and on most of the drive home and that adds another level of stress when you're pulling a camper. Drivers just don't seem to realize that you can't stop like in a car, and they pull right in front of the truck. With no signaling I might add. I think some remedial drivers education is needed for lots of people! Ha!

Horseback riders on the beach on Galveston Island. We saw lots of groups of people on horseback just riding and enjoying the sunshine.

Our campground was technically in Galveston, but it was just two miles down the road from Jamaica Beach and 20 miles from the Seawall in Galveston. We rarely left our end of the island. We were very lazy and stayed on the beach and in the campground most of the time.

Sunset from the door of our camper. It was so gorgeous there and every day was beautiful.

I have no idea what kind of bird this is but there were several hanging out around our campsite. Look at that beak! 

Cars went right on the beach. Weekends were busy with people playing. But the campground itself was quiet. 

We loved being on the beach. Most nights we walked up and down the beach and then had our folding chairs that we would just sit and watch the waves. 

One of my favorite things to do was watch the seagulls. They would soar above us without even flapping their wings. They look different than the seagulls we are used to seeing on the Oregon coast.

We went back to the historic Pleasure Pier that we visited before our cruise a few years ago. We had lunch at Bubba Gump's, designed around the movie "Forrest Gump." It was delicious but we definitely wouldn't eat there very often. Pretty expensive for what you received. It was the only meal we ate out  for the entire month. We did pick up pizza two different nights in Jamaica Beach but other than that we rarely left the campground, there was just no need to.

These signs were on the tables at Bubba Gump's. When you needed your waitress, you just flipped it over to say "Stop Forrest Stop." We ate at another Bubba Gump restaurant in Lahaina, Maui years ago. It burned down during the fire that destroyed most of the town a few years ago. It was a fun place to eat too.

This was my meal. Four different types of shrimp and delicious seasoned fries. Yum!

Dennis got the fish and chips. The bottom piece of shrimp was about 12 inches long! The photos don't do the meals justice.

Zoey loved the entire trip. She made lots of friends and played with other dogs in the dog parks at the various places we stayed on the way to and from the Gulf.

I'm sorry I didn't comment on your blogs for the last several weeks. The internet was rather sporadic but they are supposed to be upgrading the wifi connection in the next few weeks at the Galveston KOA. That will make it easier next year to stay in touch. We've already made reservations for next February and March! We enjoyed our time there so much. There are tons of activities in the winter months for the retirees that stay there. Some are there from December through March or April. We were the "short-timers." 

We had thought about taking our time getting home but then realized how much we both wanted to be in our home church for Easter weekend. Tomorrow we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, JESUS! We are so truly blessed in our lives. Our new little Granddaughter, "Baby W" was born on March 31 in London. Mom and baby are doing fine. We are so excited, but won't see her for at least a few months. Grandma, (me), can't wait to get my hands on her. She's precious. The state of the world right now is not conducive to traveling, so the daily FaceTime videos will have to do for awhile.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend of celebrating His death, Burial and Resurrection! 

Blessings and love,

Betsy

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

By: Isaac Watts

1. When I survey the wond'rous Cross
On which the Prince of Glory dy'd,
My richest Gain I count but Loss,
And pour Contempt on all my Pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the Death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his Blood.

3. See from his Head, his Hands, his Feet,
Sorrow and Love flow mingled down!
Did ever such Love and Sorrow meet?
Or Thorns compose so rich a Crown?

4. His dying Crimson, like a Robe,
Spreads o'er his Body on the Tree;
Then am I dead to all the Globe,
And all the Globe is dead to me.

5. Were the whole Realm of Nature mine,
That were a Present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my Soul, my Life, my All.

We Made It!

And it's beautiful here. Palm trees and all! We left Omaha about 9:30 Monday morning after loading the truck and driving across town to the storage unit and unloading the truck into the camper. Luckily our refrigerator cools down really fast in this camper, so we could just put the frozen food right into the empty refrigerator.  Then we hitched up and drove down the interstate.

This was our first campground of the trip. No leaves on the trees but still warm and humid.

 

We drove about 6 hours and arrived in Joplin, MO where we spent the night. That was NOT a great campground and we seemed to be the only overnighters. Everyone else was set up to be permanent residents. The campground wasn't well kept up at all, especially for the amount charged. It was a bit creepy and we were happy to leave the next morning. The above photo was our set up that night where we didn't even unhitch the trailer. We just put down the stairs and ate dinner and then we read for awhile and went to bed. We didn't leave the trailer except to take the dog outside to go potty. We got an email asking for a review of the place which Dennis filled out without my knowing until afterward. I think it was the first review he's ever done that wasn't a great one. 

But then we saw leaves on the trees and that made us happy! Driving the second day through Arkansas, we saw our first leaves budding out on the trees. That was so exciting after a winter in Nebraska with naked trees! Here the leaves are just buds that I call the "spring lace". Within a day or two they will open up fully into leaves.

The second night was in Texarkana, Texas and it was great. Very nice people at the campground and it was well kept up although pretty empty. A few other people came in after us, so we weren't the only overnighters there. We still didn't unhitch since we were leaving early in the morning the next day.

I tried without success to load a video for you of our drive through Houston. Oh my gosh. It had rained on us all day as we drove from Texarkana to Galveston, but the video wouldn't upload to the blog. Of course when we arrived in Houston it was raining so hard everyone around us had their hazard lights flashing and we were all driving about 20 mph. We couldn't even see the car in front of us at some points. If it would have been safe for us to pull over we would have, but there was no place to stop. Finally when we were almost to Galveston it slowed to a sprinkle. Pulling a 35 foot trailer was NOT fun through the storm in the city at all.

Then we arrived on Galveston island and this was our first glimpse of the gulf and it was beautiful to us.

And the below photo is where we are set up for the next three weeks. It's beautiful. Absolutely wonderful. The people are so nice here, both staff and other guests. Today there was a craft fair and also a local man here selling tamales at lunchtime. There is a heated pool and a hot tub. Also a heated lazy river. Activities all day for kids and adults. We went for a walk with Zoey and everyone we saw talked to us. Some have been here since January to avoid winter at home after spending the holidays with family. Most winter people will leave around the time we do, April 1. We're already wishing we had decided to stay longer and are discussing coming back for a few months next winter if it continues to be this enjoyable. Could we actually avoid snow altogether? Time will tell if we can actually do this.

I bought Dennis some salsa at the craft fair. Locally made and he said it was delicious. I may actually buy some of the handmade jewelry or a small drawing next week. Who knows? That's about all we did today. It was windy and cool so we didn't go to the beach today. We settled in instead. Tomorrow we'll go on a long walk on the sand and forget it's only March and that it snowed back home yesterday. :-)

I started this blanket as we drove. Cindy at the "Delighted Hands" blog on my sidebar sent me the link to the pattern after my last post. It's an easy four row repeat after the first few rows but I still made lots of mistakes and had to frog several times because I was busy being the navigator and not paying attention. I have only done one round since we arrived but tomorrow I will do more. A woman walking by tonight as I was crocheting that one row stopped to see what I was making and volunteered that the nearest place to buy yarn was Hobby Lobby and how to get there. I appreciated that and the fact that it's how everyone here that we've met seems to react to our arrival. Like they're glad to meet us and happy we're here. It's a nice change to how the world has seemed lately most of the places I go. People have seemed to be angry and ready to snap at the littlest things. Here they are relaxed and happy. Lots of families on spring break. Kids riding bikes and playing basketball on the court. Two little boys stopped on their bikes and asked if they could pet our dog. Zoey loved it. Any attention is wonderful to her.

I hope you enjoyed our trip south with us. I don't expect much excitement happening around here. We plan to walk, read and sleep. I'll crochet or knit too and we'll probably meet some new people and maybe join in on some bingo or other activity. We'll see. We have no schedule to keep or place to be and it's a nice change.

Take care my friends. One thing we haven't forgotten is the war in Iran and the Ukraine. We're still praying for all of the military and innocent people in harms way. I keep telling myself that God is in control and will work it all out for the good of those who love Him. I'm so glad I have that promise and so can you. I can't imagine trying to go through life without Him in it.

I'll be back soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Spring?

Hello and happy Friday to you all! We've had a busy few days just doing "stuff". Yesterday was warm in the low 60's, so we put the back seat down in the car and loaded the entire thing up with everything we had removed from the camper last fall, plus food and bathroom things. Zoey was so excited to be back in the camper. She ran right in and to the bedroom. She loves the bed in there. :-) So do we! Because...we're leaving on Monday for a month long camping trip. At least we plan to be gone a month. But with everything happening in the world you never know for sure and plans can change can't they?

Monday we'll drive as far as Joplin, MO where we have reservations and then Tuesday to Texarkana, TX. Our final destination will be Galveston Island, TX on Wednesday. We have reservations at a campground there for three weeks. It's supposed to be directly across the road from the gulf so we're looking forward to some beach walking and sitting. We have no plans yet for our trip home and will decide that when we're closer to leaving. I would really like to visit a friend in San Antonio, but it's a bit out of the way so we'll see. 

We're going to the tulip festival in Pella, IA at the beginning of May with our normal camping crew. The next week we'll be just outside of Salt Lake City at a resort for a camping meet up with a favorite YouTube channel. It sounds like a lot of fun and our first time participating in that kind of trip. 

This summer we hope to take Piper to Helena, MT to see her cousins that she hasn't seen for years. Then in September, another trip to Spokane is planned to visit our "family" there. In other words, if all goes well, there will be a LOT of miles put on our truck and 5th wheel this year. In addition there are several camping trips planned around here with our friends.

Of course, we're well aware that a lot of things can happen to change our plans but we're hopeful. This is what we wanted to do in the first part of retirement, but those plans changed quickly when we realized we needed to be here for Mom. Originally, we had planned to live full-time in our camper for at least 5 years and travel around the country. That has changed, but we can still go out and do trips like this.

The photo below is how I've decorated the mantel for Easter, although we will be gone for most, if not all, of the time leading up to it. The wooden tomb was made by Benton, my blog friend Pamela's son from "Closed Doors, Open Windows" on my sidebar. He does such beautiful work. I've showed it to you before right after I received it. The wooden "stone" can be moved from in front of the tomb. It is such a wonderful reminder of the sacrifice our Lord and Saviour made for us when He died on the cross. Pamela, please thank Benton for me again. I love the work he does.

Yesterday I made these easy overnight cinnamon rolls again. You can't get any easier than this.  

Put 15 frozen round dinner rolls in a bundt pan. In a bowl mix, 1/2 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. chopped walnuts OR pecans, 1 small box COOK & SERVE, **** NOT INSTANT****, dry vanilla pudding, 2 TBSP cinnamon.  Sprinkle over the top of rolls. Melt 1/2 cup butter and pour all over the top. 

Place in unheated oven overnight or around 8-10 hours.  Then bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Make a glaze of 2 cups powdered sugar, splash of vanilla and a little milk OR water. Pour just a little over the top of rolls. Turn onto a plate. Pour remainder of glaze onto the rolls.

These are SO good. And super easy. You'll thank me. Ha!

I finished the shawl for the hospital and began another one. I haven't washed or blocked this yet but I really like the way the colors work on the shawl. The next one will have similar colors but in a rectangular pattern instead.

I saw these baby blankets today online. This is NOT my photo or my blankets but aren't they so pretty and delicate? I need to find this pattern and make some. It looks like the Virus pattern to me so I need to do some research. My hands are itching to get started but I have to find the pattern first. Do any of you have it? Is it an easy pattern? 

***Edited to add: Cindy from "Delighted Hands" on my sidebar sent me the exact link to the blankets in the photo. Plus she rewrote and arranged the pattern to take out the ads and make it easier to read and emailed it to me. My blog friends are the greatest! Thank you Cindy!

This definitely fits this week. Or even today. It was sunny and 66F when we went to lunch. An hour later it was in the 40's and raining. Now it's 32F feels like 22F. Crazy. Possible tornadoes are predicted. A wintery mix could fall overnight. Just another day in Nebraska! :-)

 Our son is flying home tonight and since he usually goes through Quatar, he's been rerouted through Shanghai, China. Prayers there too please?

In great news, our friend Donna that I told you about last post will be able to go home tomorrow. Of course her four ribs are still broken, but therapy has taught her how to move around without damaging them further. Thank you for praying for her. She, and us, appreciate it very much.

Blessings and love.

Betsy

THERE IS A REDEEMER

Text & Music: Melody Green

Jesus, God's own son

Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see his face
And there I'll serve my king forever
In that holy place.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.
And leaving your spirit
'Till the work on earth is done.

Plans? What Plans?

Hello and happy Friday morning. We do still have plans, just not sure the details or when. We're planning to go camping soon, but will most likely be heading south somewhere. The weather is so up and down here. It's in the 70's F here for the next few days and then back down into the 30's. Do those of you in Texas, Louisiana or the vicinity know of any RV parks that don't cost an arm or a leg and are still safe? Ha! The plans now are to head south next week sometime. Maybe. Who knows until that day comes?!

Meanwhile, Miss Piper spent the day with us last Saturday. Brad & Mandy had a memorial service for their neighbor, so Papa took Piper to her Taekwondo competition. She won a 2nd and 3rd place medals which was very good since they were skills that she had just learned recently. Afterwards she came home to us and had lunch and some very rousing games of UNO before Mandy picked her up. We sure love this not so little girl. She's growing into quite a young lady. She's on the honor roll with straight A's. She also loves us and isn't ashamed to show it. 

Lizzie came over and stayed with us too. These two dogs love each other and are so excited to spend time together. Piper was working with them on their obedience training in this photo. I love Lizzie's ear flop! :-)

Mandy sent me the photo below yesterday with the caption. “She has such a rough life!” Ha! She's snuggled up in Piper's bed while Piper is at school and Mandy and Brad are working. They both work from home and Lizzie loves that. She's much like Zoey and doesn't like being left alone. We call them both our Velcro dogs. They are VERY attached to us and each other.

I put up my St. Patricks decorations yesterday. I don't know we'll be around much to enjoy them. I don't have very many, but I have a crocheted garland on the island and door decorations too. 

I started another prayer shawl for the hospital. I like the colors together. I don't normally put light brown with pinks, but I do like it.

I had my very own inspector while taking the photo. She's very particular about my work and has to make sure it's up to her standards. I cross my fingers until she gives it a passing opinion.

This happed earlier this week here in Omaha. Thankfully both of these vehicles were sitting still at a red light or it could have been tragic. Can you imagine driving into a hole like this? No one was hurt and the two gentlemen in the truck helped the lady in the car out.  Apparently the pavement just collapsed. 

The dinner at church, Florentino's, was a great success. The kids spent Friday at the Open Door Mission borrowing their commercial kitchen so they could make thousands of meatballs. They were about 3 inches in diameter! Dennis said they were delicious. I opted for chicken fettuccine and had so much that I took over half of it home for dinner the next day. The kids did such a great job with serving and clean up. They wore white shirts and black pants with aprons, just like a fancy restaurant. I can't believe that I didn't take any photos. The fellowship hall was decorated like an Italian restaurant. There were even three fountains complete with goldfish that Dennis's cousin Curt built. He used the wood from the camp bunkbeds that were demolished for the new beds. :-)

So, it was all wonderful until we got to the parking lot. We had driven another couple to the dinner. Ted is 92 and his wife Donna is 89. They have been at the church since before Dennis and I met in Sunday school class there in 1975. Ted was one of Dennis's dad's best friend while growing up. In other words, we go back a long, long way. They are a lovely couple. 

Usually they drive themselves everywhere, but not after dark. Neither of them like to drive when it's dark out. Dennis had just helped Ted into the car and I was holding the door for Donna. The car next to us had parked very close so I suggested we close the door and Dennis back out before she got in. She took a step backwards and we still don't know what happened, but she fell straight backwards, hitting her head on the asphalt. We ended up taking her to the Emergency Room. I was worried about a head injury. Her head ended up being fine, but she broke 4 ribs! I couldn't believe it. Not cracked, broken. She was moved yesterday to a facility to help her rehabilitate, learning how to get up and down. She has had both knees replaced, so she's in a state. 

We visited her again yesterday and apologized yet again. We feel responsible, and she keeps saying we didn't do anything wrong. I just feel like we should have prevented it somehow. Ted says she has fallen a few times recently, but they won't consider moving to an assisted living. They have stairs at their house and it's such a worry to a lot of us at church. If you're a praying person, would you pray that she'll heal quickly? She wants to be at home and we also found out yesterday that there is covid in the wing that she's staying in. Yikes.

Well, the state of the world isn't improving is it? I pray that if you don't know the Lord, you would consider reaching out to Him. This could all end very badly with all of the weapons held by different countries. I would love to know that you would be in Heaven with me some day. 

Blessings and love to you all,

Betsy

What If It Were Today?

Text and Music: Lelia N. Morris

1. Jesus is coming to earth again,
What if it were today?
Coming in power and love to reign,
What if it were today?
Coming to claim His chosen Bride,
All the redeemed and purified,
Over this whole earth scattered wide,
What if it were today?

Glory, glory!
Joy to my heart 'twill bring,
Glory, glory!
When we shall crown Him King;
Glory, glory!
Haste to prepare the way;
Glory. glory!
Jesus will come some day.

2. Satan's dominions will then be o'er,
O that it were today!
Sorrow and sighing shall be no more,
O that it were today!
Then shall the dead in Christ arise,
Caught up to meet Him in the skies;
When shall these glories meet our eyes?
What if it were today?

Glory, glory!
Joy to my heart 'twill bring,
Glory, glory!
When we shall crown Him King;
Glory, glory!
Haste to prepare the way;
Glory. glory!
Jesus will come some day.

3. Faithful and true would He find us here
If He should come today?
Watching in gladness and not in fear,
If He should come today?
Signs of His coming multiply,
Morning light breaks in eastern sky,
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh,
What if it were today?

Glory, glory!
Joy to my heart 'twill bring,
Glory, glory!
When we shall crown Him King;
Glory, glory!
Haste to prepare the way;
Glory. glory!
Jesus will come some day.

Snow?

 Hi Everyone! Is it warming up where you are? Not here. We've been SO WARM around here. Yesterday was 66F. Today it feels like 12F. We're supposed to get anywhere from 3 to 12 inches of snow. School was cancelled for today because of the forecast and it is now 12:30 pm and we have yet to have a flake fall. Who knows if we'll actually get anything or not. Personally I hope not, because we want to go camping next week. :-) We were thinking of heading south for a few weeks but that's a lot of diesel fuel and we've had such nice weather around here that we had changed our mind and decided just to go to the state park here. We'll see what happens in the next few days with the weather. We have a funeral to attend on Monday so we'll be home at least until then anyway.

I know Valentine's Day is long gone, but I thought I would share the photos of our 2nd Annual cupcake decorating party with you. Nothing spectacular, just lots and lots of laughter and fun. We first had pizza and then we decorated and then we sat and talked about nothing and everything. A very happy and fun evening and a great way to brighten up the mid-winter blahs.

A plateful of yummy. I baked 72 cupcakes on Saturday morning.

Amanda had 24 of her very own since she has Celiac disease and can't have gluten. She had so many to decorate that she went fairly plain with her cupcakes.

Yum!

Left to right, Dennis's cousin Curt. Our pastor Jeff, his wife Angie. Dennis and Barb, Curt's wife on the left.

Right to left. Amanda, Barb, Curt, Jeff and Angie.

We sure do have a great time together. This is the same group that rides bikes with Dennis in the summer and all of us except Amanda camp together quite a bit too.

***Edited to add that most of the cupcakes were taken to Sunday school the next morning and shared there.

I had my CAT scan yesterday. The "thing" on my adrenal gland must not have changed since last years scan, because after the radiologist looked at the first few scans he determined that I didn't need to have the contrast added. It was nice not to have to be poked for yet another IV. I'm still waiting to hear back from the endriconolgist, (I didn't spell that right), to let me know all of the results of the scan and the bloodwork from last week. I'm feeling pretty optimistic though. No news is good news.

We're planning to go to the first fish fry of Lent at the Catholic Church down the street tomorrow night. We'll go with Curt & Barb and another couple that we've known about 45 years, Tom & Sheryl. We've done this together every year since we moved back to Omaha. This particular church feeds about 1500 every Friday night of lent. It's quite a production and helps pay for the extra's for their school.

We're also hoping to go to the big RV show here tomorrow during the day. We really like looking at RV's although we have absolutely no plans to get a different one. We are very happy with our new camper even though it was technically 2 years old when we bought it. It was brand new, but still on the lot. Sales had slowed down a lot in the past few years. We got an amazing deal on it because they just wanted it gone to make room for the new models. Anyway, back to the RV show. It's always fun to see the new things they come up with.

I hope you're all well and staying warm and dry and we'll all keep dreaming of summer. :-) I'm praying in particular for the people of Iran, Israel and the entire Middle East right now. It seems that things are reaching a boiling point and hopefully the Iranian people can cast out the regime that has been imprisoning them all since 1979. 

Blessings and hugs,

Betsy

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

Text and Music by: James M. Black

1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, 
and time shall be no more,
and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather 
over on the other shore,
and the roll is called up yonder, 
I’ll be there.

Refrain:
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

2 On that bright and cloudless morning 
when the dead in Christ shall rise, 
and the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather 
to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, 
I’ll be there. [Refrain]

3 Let us labor for the Master 
from the dawn till setting sun;
let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over, 
and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder, 
I’ll be there. [Refrain]