What Technology Can Teach Us, TPC

The spring rains are upon us and while in some instances that is a good thing, for the flood born areas of Iowa it is more disaster. The chairs at the park along the rivers edge were beginning to show their heads before Saturday’s rain and now they are again gone with the waters rising higher that the original snow melt flood that started in March. We are currently experiencing the most consecutive weeks at major flood stage.

The above picture was taken at the highest point of the snow melt at the end of March. Today these sidewalks are under water. The waters did not get the chance to recede more than 15 feet of flood stage before the rains started and we are to have rain through Thursday. And some next week. Currently I believe we are at 20 feet flood stage and in 1993, which was considered a historic flood, it reached well over 23 feet. We may see it again. I find it interesting that the Woodman Park baseball field brought in technology to help keep the ball field from the yearly floods since it is located at the rivers edge.

They installed walls to protect the main building, stadium and ball field.

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I think maybe the city needs to think more on doing something to protect the business that are located near the river or even those located one street up. The city on the opposite side of the river currently has no issues as they installed higher walls to protect it’s city along the river.

This picture I thought was funny as we are pulling water from somewhere below and dumping it back in to the river…which is now in the back yard.

While we are all waiting on the sun to shine, I remind you to always be kind. The brightness of a smiling face can light the darkness of a shadowed moment and help bring new life. Let your kindness shine.

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Jansen Photo challenges us with using a photo from technology so come along and join in on the fun.

Connections…So Many Types

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The finger bone is connected to the hand bone, the hand bone is connected to the wrist bone, the wrist bone is connected to the arm bone….and so on…What a fun song that was when we were kids. Today’s fun is brought to you by way of Tuesday Photo Challenge of Jansen Photo on Connections. So I bring you connections with the hand.

Think about what our hands connect us with. It is a resource that connects us physically with life through a handshake, a gentle touch, an angry strike, a written word, a flower planted, a baby carried and we could go on forever with all the hands do. But the hands are connected not just with bones but also with the heart. The hands along with the face are the two most expressive parts of our bodies that connect to the world with ways you could never fathom creating every emotion available. Think how a dancer can move your emotions with her movements and her hands in gentle swaying movements of freedom, drooping despair, the hard fist of frustration or the lifting of praise and prayer.

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And these emotions are tightly connected with our heart and with God. Scripture reminds us how His hands are forever reaching down to connect us with Him…to even carry us in His hands during great times of despair when we can no longer stand much less walk. Connections. Life is about connections, good or bad. They can be fleeting or lasting. I challenge you to make your connections last for the beauty available in this life.

One of the easiest ways to connect is with kindness. A connection made with kindness today will plant a seed of love and before you know it you have a beautiful tree to shade others in kindness where they can then grow their own seeds to make other trees of kindness. It all begins with a connection from the heart.

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Horrifying to Amazing, Worship

ND Cross — Even with the roof debris scattered on the floor, the cross remains…and seems to be glowing.

So many feelings have run through us over the tragedy at Notre Dame. Watching it blaze, knowing what the building stood for over the centuries. The history that took place in that building. The love the people of Paris, France and around the world people had for this building. The art it contained. Such a loss, and yet, now as the dust is settling, we are amazed at what was not lost. The millions of people who visit this place daily were not there. The most sacred artifacts were saved. A lot of the artwork was saved. Some of the beautiful stained glass windows as in the beautiful rose window was saved. The fireman did an amazing job saving as much of the structure as they did from the over 200 foot high flames that rose about this structure with an intense heat that I could never imagine.

The unity of the people on the streets as they sang hymns in loving memory of what it used to be but I think the comment I heard says a lot about this tragedy and the fact it is Holy week. As Christ died this week, he arose to bring new life. This building will again rise to bring new life. My hope is that the love and passion felt in the streets as it seemed the building would die, would remain and go forward in the Godly love that is to come out of any building of worship of our Father. However, Acts 7:48 reminds us that ‘The Most high does not live in houses made by man.’ We must never worship the building or anything in the building. And we must also remember that we who follow Christ have Christ living in us and we together are the church. We go to worship in a specified building to honor him for what he did for us on the cross. This is Holy week and that must be our focus, whether we are a fine church or a tent meeting, needs to be Christ and what He did for us.

Jansen-photo challenged us for today’s Tuesday Photo Challenge on Worship in honor of the tragedy of Notre Dame.

I am enclosing pictures of my church as it is nearly 200 years old and has many beautiful stained glass windows. It would be tragic for us if we lost it but we know we would continue onward. In 1955 a tornado took off the tall spire of this church and it was not replaced when repairs were done.

Below are the 3 large windows that I thought you might enjoy. All of the windows in the sanctuary and parlor are beautiful stain glass that reflect color all through the room when the sun is shining.

IMG_20190416_120314 — My favorite. Jesus carrying us, His beloved lambs.

IMG_20190416_120337 — Jesus in His youth

As we focus on the meaning of this week, Holy Week, let us remember to share the love God shared so richly with us. You never know what tragedy someone may be going through in their own life so always remember to be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love.

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Roll With the Punches, TPC

When I first saw the challenge for Tuesday Photo Challenge of Roll by Jansenphoto, my brain went straight to a song from my college days – “Rolling, rolling, rolling down the river” but nobody wants to here me sing so I will display my recent “Punch of Life”, and I will added a bit of poor man’s poetry. Come along and join in on the fun.

The Lack of Cold

Ole Fridge, Ole Fridge

How could you leave me so warm?

The ice cream now puddle on the floor

For bees to come swarm.

Ole Fridge, Ole Fridge

With my life visible on display

Of pictures and magnets in sad disarray

IMG_20190401_165936 — Does you life reflect on your fridge

Ole Fridge, Ole Fridge

Repairman could not be repaired

Stripping you clean of life really seems unfair

IMG_20190401_170641 — The hideous wallpaper looks even worse now, that’s the next project

Ole Fridge, Ole Fridge

As the punch slams you to the floor

We roll for new cold we can find in the store

New Fridge, New Fridge

Which one shall we choose

I think the silver will be better, with it we can’t lose.

As with all of life, there are times where you just have to Roll with the Punches. So in remembrance of how life can hit us square in the face, know that it hits others just as hard, so try to give extra effort in being kind. That may be the only time that day an individual may receive any form of kindness. Always be kind.

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A Special Rock? Probably Not.

Tuesday’s Photo Challenge by jansenphoto today is an interesting one. I have been looking at this rock on my shelf for over a year now and can’t decide to toss it in the yard or leave it on the shelf. It was given to me by a friend named Lynn. She loved rocks and she said this was a rock she found while rock hunting and that it was a ___ rock, which means I don’t remember what she said and myself, I have no clue. It does have some interesting colors on it. It sat on my desk for several years but when I retired, I didn’t have the guts to throw it back outside because it meant so much to her. Now I am getting ready to spring clean and faced with again…what do I do with the rock. I will probably just put it in the rock bed out front but thought in tribute to Lynn I would post the pictures of it. If indeed it looks like a special type of rock to you, shoot me a line and tell me what I am looking at.

One side looks like maybe a fossil was embedded in it at some time, kind of a snail type shape.

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But my knowledge of rocks or anything of the fossil type would not fill a mother of pearl inlaid thimble or brass thimble with a petit point band or even a tiny much need of polishing silver thimble all of which belong to my mother’s thimble collection. Rocks need humor to go along with them.

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But regardless of my poor knowledge of that information, I am well acquainted with the need for kindness in this world. So always remember to be kind.

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Anticipation, First Day Out

Well its been and interesting 6 weeks since my last surgery but today I was given permission to get out by myself and maybe go driving. How marvelous since I have been house bound other that my daughter taking me to Dr. visits.

IMG_20181218_123330 — Watch that first step!

Intellectually I knew this was short term and having gone through it before in August I knew the drill. But it is still nice to know you are healing enough to get out again and today is a pretty day. The sun is bright against a clear sky but there is still the residual snow linger from 2 weeks ago, but roads have been clear since the Monday after the 14″ Saturday.

IMG_20181218_123949 — Due some more possibly over the weekend and maybe white for Christmas.

So where to go on my first day of freedom. Hmmm. Looks like the birds are telling me I need to go back to the store, so I guess I will go to Lowes after lunch.

IMG_20181218_130504 — Yard entertainment

The kitties next door watch the birds as they feed. Mimi watches the birds, the squirrels and the cats in the window. I watch Mimi and the birds. So I guess its a community watch of sorts.

Enjoy the beauty around you. There is always something in nature and life worth watching, you may just have to look for it. And remember to show kindness in all things, whether it be a kind word, a gentle touch, or even a bright smile. That may be just the thing someone needs to lighten their day. May the end of this post make you smile and remember all of natures smiles with you.

It has been proven that a smile can turn a frown totally upside down. Smile often. To some it makes then smile back at you and to some it makes them wonder what you are smiling about, which makes them smile because then they think of thing that make them smile. It’s fully contagious.

Learning to Walk, Again

Those of you who have been following me know that since August I have been having correct bone alignment in my feet. We corrected the left foot first. It is about 85% healed. So it took about 6 weeks before I could put pressure down on the foot and learn to walk again with the new alignment. It gives you a new appreciation for babies learning to walk.

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I still get the sharp healing pains as the nerves are knitting back together as they say it will take about 1 year. Not a fun experience but part of the healing experience. In November we corrected the right foot and I have been going from bed to sofa with the help of a knee cart. Its nice to be able to get around without crutches but when you already have knee issues from challenges of youth, it can be painful.

The challenges of youth should be correctly called the stupidity of youth because as an adult you would never do these things. And with me being a tomboy, I was not about to be shown up by any boy. And since I was into horses, well now you have added in another factor of – “You did what?” For example – diving from the top of the hay loft into the pile of hay below. Was it thick enough to cushion our fall? Were snakes hiding in the hay as they often were? How about standing on top of your horse as he walked around the pasture with no bridle or saddle? And of course there were the neighborhood ball games with all the guys? And the list goes on. I am sure others have similar lists.

Yes so now in my mid 60s I am paying for those challenges. But doing OK. As I have stated before I have earned every gray hair, every wrinkle…and every pain. But I would not have changed a thing, well maybe one thing that still scares me to think about it to this day involving a train.

So this week’s challenge is to start walking without the boot. Its twice as difficult as the left foot has not fully healed so I am having balance/confidence issues. My goal is to be back in church before Christmas. I go back to Dr on Thursday so we will see. But regardless, progress for this challenge is being made.

IMG_20181211_101649 — Slow progress is still progress

So in this season of thankfulness I am ever grateful that I can walk at all and that I have been blessed with another day of life. So tagging in with jansenphoto TPC weekly challenge word of Challenge, I submit my challenge of walking and ask you to play along for the fun.

And as I always say, remember to be kind. Even though someone may not look like they are hurting, a kind word will ease those silent hurts that are deep within.

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Memories of Past Loves, TPC

Today’s challenge from Dutch Goes the Photo concerns memories and is sparked by his memory when losing a beloved canine member named Bette, last week. Our canine companions really do become family as they become part of our hearts. So this post is in dedication to all the loved canines I have had over the years. I actually have written a book about them but now that it is complete I have no clue what to do next.

The pictures I will post are taken from old photos that were in scrapbooks or photo albums from ???years ago when I was young. But as I review these wonderful photos, I remember their individual personalities. And I remember how all the kids in the neighborhood loved them and wherever the kids were, the dogs were too.

My first dog I remember was Spot Tillman Jr III as named by my older brother who was probably 4 at the time. There was no I, II or even junior for Spot, so I am not sure why the additives but there you have it. Spot was mostly white with brown ears, a German Short Hair that was scared of hunting. But allowed being sat on – yes that’s me.

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Then there was Nellie a small terrier who had puppies and we kept one that looked like her and her name was Sandra. Then in junior high I got Gypsy, a mixed breed with pronounced black skin around her eyes and mouth. She was part of the neighborhood canine group of kids and dogs together as one. With her is Blacky, another member of the neighborhood group.

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Samantha, which my mother thought was her dog came when I was in High school and college. But in reality we all really know whose dog it was.

After college and leaving home, my first dog was Zero. So named due to his over tiny ears and tail when he was a puppy. They later grew into very nice ears and tail.

Of all the dogs I have had, Baby Ruth was my favorite. She was a Black Lab cross that was connected to my very soul. She is the matriarch hero of my book.

A breed of dog I wish I had discovered earlier in life is the Great Dane. Wonder gentle giants, clownish and protective at the same time. Dittims was a Harlequin Great Dane meaning he was the white with black spots. His back hit just above my waist and he topped out at about 185. I use him in my blog heading. He had his own chair. The funniest thing though, and evidently a lot of danes do it, they think they are lap dogs and they will literally come sit in your lap – feet on the floor with their butt in your lap. It is too funny.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Spot Junior the 4th aka Dittims. He had one spot on one side in the shape of a heart.

My canine besty now is Mimi. Her full name is Screaming Mimi as when she was a tiny, she would scream when left like what my images of what a screaming mimi sounded like. Ear piercing. Even now that she is grown, the pitch of her bark can make you put your hands over your ears.

While she sounds ferocious you can tell from the last picture she really is just goofy. But she is a great companion.

I hope you enjoyed my canine memory lane and I look forward to read other memories as well from this fpj-photo-challenge.

And since we are in canine mode, I remind everyone the value of kindness. No matter how small a kindness you may share with human or animal, it is never wasted.

kind6 — Animals also understand the process of being kind

Three New Fun Ornaments, TPC

Tuesday’s Photo Challenge made me giggle as I just bought a trio of new ornaments for my “Fun Tree”. This tree has the quirky ornaments, the ornaments my children made over the year and then back filled with colored balls to reflects the light and love of the tree. This tree is located in my bedroom in a large bump out window. Perfect place for a tree.

IMG_20181113_095417 — Mermaid S’More at the top, Angel S’More in the Center and S’More with Reindeer

The S’More collection started when my kids were in high school and pranksters. My oldest gave me the first one and that started a trend where now I try to find a new one each year. This year I found 3 that I didn’t have that I liked. I think I now have over 30 of them and the fun tree is quickly becoming the S’More tree.

When we were told we could be humorous for today’s challenge, I could not resist. And remember humor like art is in the eye of the beholder.

And I close as I always do in reminding myself and others to always be kind. Today is World Kindness Day, so an extra reminder to be kind.

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The Box ‘Returnith’ – Surprise, TPC

Its funny how some things just disappear and then all of a sudden ‘surprise, I am back’. It can be a person or a thing but in my case it was a cardboard box.

Jansenphoto’s Tuesday’s photo challenge is Surprise! We all love good surprises and wish we didn’t get some surprises but sometimes there is a weird off handed surprise that make us smile.

To cut to the chase, I had my mailbox sitting on a cardboard box so that the mailman would not have to come up to the house. I will tell that story one day but today we are talking about the box. Saturday was a beautiful day but we had some pretty serious wind gusts around 45-55 mph. It was more than the little box could stand I guess as the mailbox ended up on the ground and the box was not to be found. I asked around but no one had seen it. Didn’t want to trash up my neighbors yard. OK, no big deal. I placed a concrete block there and put the mailbox on it. Wind wont blow that away…unless it takes the house as well.

Tuesday mid-morning when I went to check on the mail, guess what was there.

IMG_20181023_102607 — And the box returns, Who Knew?

They even brought it back filled with trash. How extra special. I put it with the rest of the trash I was cleaning up from the yard so it is no more for certain this time.

And as always as a reminder to myself as well as others, remember to be kind. It will bring a smile to you and as well as those you were kind to.

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