Faith and Families

I love this picture of the little birds all huddled together, still asleep, holding tight to the tiny branch.
It reminds me of families being support groups for each other in this troubled world.
I've been reading a book called the Survivors Club which is a study of why some people are survivors and others die or give-up. It's an excellent book and I was fascinated with the stories of plane or car crashes, or simple accidents (like the opening story of a woman who tripped on the stairs and stabbed herself in the heart with a knitting needle she had in her bag) and the people who survived.
One of the main reasons for survival is FAITH. Those who have faith in a supreme being are the most likely to survive. Another reason is a SUPPORT GROUP. "the larger the gathering in the hospital waiting room, the more likely the patient is to survive".
There are lots of other reasons to, such as not panicking , using common sense, and going with your "gut" instincts, but I was really impressed with the importance of faith and support being top reasons.
This proves how important God is in our lives and why He planned on us having families.
Of course I knew this before I read the book, it's just nice that the author agrees with me!

Not Much, But Alot

Not much has happened with Gary and I over the last week. Life goes on as usual. Get up, feed the dog, unlock the gate, let the chicken's out, etc.,etc.,etc.

We still work out, well Gary does better than I do at that, but I am maintaining and not gaining any weight back so there is that to be thankful for.

We went to see the movie "Knowing" and I thought it was really good. Lots of special effects and a great ending.

We had all of our local family over for a BBQ. It snowed and rained, so the guys cooked outside and we ate inside.

I hugged my grandson until he couldn't stand it anymore before he left for the evening. He will be in Fort Benning Georgia by tomorrow night to start boot camp for the Rangers.

We celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary the next day by exercising and then going to Arby's for their new roast beef sandwich.

And yesterday we got an email from our missionary grandson in Mexico. He had a rough start, but is finally doing better. His feet are healing and he likes his new companion. He still is adjusting to seeing all the Mexican military out in force and the extreme poverty, but I think he is enjoying the work now.

Today I cleaned house, watched it hail, rain and snow with occasional bits of sunshine.

I'm reading a book called "Lone Survivor" aloud to Gary. It's a great true story of a Navy Seal who was the only one of his team to survive a combat mission.

So I guess alot has happened this week now that I look back over the days.

Sun and Rain

The wind has been blowing for about a week and a half now and then rain yesterday most of the day and this morning sunshine.
It is also alittle warmer.
So alot of snow is gone. Hurray!!!!!
But there is still some left and the ground is all soggy.
And Odie tracks in muddy footprints everywhere.
He comes in with big clumps of mud on his nose because he's been digging up old treasures he buried last spring. Ick!
We opened the chicken hatch yesterday even though there is still snow in the pen, and a few of them ventured out, ran to the small shelter (used to be the pig shed) and then back again.
At least they got some fresh air.
I even saw some green grass trying to come up where the snow has receded.
Spring at last!!

New Movement

http//www.glennbeck.com/content/program/we-the-people

If you feel like you are alone in feeling that the country is going to pot and feel like there is nothing you can do about it then join the movement started by Glenn Beck, Fox News host.
We happened to be in town yesterday and saw the marquee at the movie theater saying "Free showing of Glenn Beck show" so we went in with about 400 other people from our little town to watch.
He is suggesting that people who believe in the 9 principles and 12 values he lists should get together to discuss what is going on in America. We should not stay the silent majority, but be informed and let our voices be heard.
Read the link above and let your voice be heard around the country!

Wild & Wonderful Weekend

It was a wonderful weekend! Everyone was here except Elder Brick of course and we all missed him.

The little ones had great fun running and playing and wrestling and I enjoyed every single minute!!

Calm in the Midst of the Storm

We usually turn on the news every morning when we get up to see if the world is still in one piece and lately it seems as if it is rapidly crumbling apart.

Economic woes, government take overs and "bail-outs". So many people jobless and the stock market failing. Crime rates out of control, riots and demonstrations. Fights over who should be married and who shouldn't. Drug cartels threatening to take over the borders.

Add to that the weather everywhere. Winds, rains, snow, heat waves all across the world.

It sometimes makes you want to hide under the covers (or put your head right down in the sand, look through rose colored glasses, and all the other cliches) until it is all over.
What is a person to do to get through these rough times?

I guess we could turn off the tv and stop reading the newspaper so we wouldn't know what was going on everywhere. We live out in the country and it doesn't seem like much of it affects us personally, except the weather (wind howling like a bansee as I type). But we know others who are affected. A niece who lost her job to down sizing and had to start her own business, a grandson serving a mission in Mexico, another grandson going into the military soon. We know those that are losing their retirement savings in the stock market and wonder about our own going belly up.

So we can't hide, all we can do is endure and have faith that the Lord will watch out for us. He doesn't say he will keep us from harm, but he does say he will help us through it all. After all, he sent his son to serve here on earth and watched as we crucified him and yet he still loves us enough to promise a safe haven if we don't give up having faith.

I pray that each of you pray daily and keep close to your Father in Heaven and try to stay safe, healthy and happy.

Leap For Joy!

I'm leaping for joy today! It was cold and cloudy this morning, then it warmed up to the 40's and was sunny, then we had thunder and lightening and rain and now it's sunny again!

Guess that goes to show that Heavenly Father is in charge of the weather.

The snow continues to melt although we now have hugmongus puddles everywhere and we still have huge icy mounds of snow.

But I am happy that it is not below zero and the sun is out from time to time.

I went shopping today and was surprised to find the stores pretty crowded. I thought Tuesday would be a good day to find the stores fairly quiet, but no luck.

Have a wonderful day today!