Lilies and Thorns

South Mountain Traders - Four Color Geocaching Logo Trackable Patch

2009-08-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

South Mountain Traders - Four Color Geocaching Logo Trackable Patch

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Wow, God!

2009-08-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to sleep after "talking" to a friend on FB. She now lives in Africa and is homeschooling her boys. Ten years ago, for me, that would have never been possibe. E-mail, yes,, but IM in real time.
I went to sleep this morning thinking about how my God is watching over me and her at the same time. Wrap you mind around that.

More Prayerful things

2009-05-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I had been praying about the trip to China. And I was hearing in my heart that I was not to goat this time. Then the first week of April I recieved a call from the church and sure enough the trip fell through. There would be no trip to China this year. And I was okay with this.

The pressure of having to work so many over time shifts this year, was lifted from my shoulders.

Present Day: Today is my twenty year anniversary of being with the department. Only 1819 days until I am eligible to retire. Not that I think I could afford to do so at that time.

So I was talking on the telephone with my mother. She suggested that maybe I should take some seminary classes in preparation to go on mission trip and maybe in the future on the mission field.

Can I get to my knees fast enough. Am I to go and take classes? Am I really going to go into missions? I am in need of lots of prayers. And to hear God tell me, in ways that I can understand what I need to do.

Prayerful thngs.........................

2009-02-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

For years I have been talking to God about missions. Being a missionary going on a mission trip. And then this year when I checked my churchs website there was a trip that I immediately felt called to go on. It was like a neon flashing light with my name in bold letters.
So I contacted our missions minister. And I have started the paperwork.

Now I am praying even harder. The church has not officially picked the week in June for the trip. In fact they might bump it back to May. At my work site I had to choose my five weeks of vacation during the first part of January. So I have picked a week in June and I am still praying that I be allowed to go on this trip.

Then Dad had his accident. So I started having doubts about the trip. But Dads injuries are not that severe. So I feel like I am still suppose to go on this trip.

I know that I am going to have to work several overtime shifts. Each year it gets harder and harder to work over time. Or I should say, starting to work a lot of over time is difficult. And then recovering from the overtime.

Then after attending church this past Sunday, a friend brought up the subject. She said that she can totally see me going into the missions field. I asked her who had she been talking to. She said no one. So I told her all of the above information. She suggested that we bring this up in class next week. To allow the class to start praying for me and the trip.

Random things...........

2009-02-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

Dad had an accident January 14th, 2009. This had been my first day back to the gym. I had a really nice time. Stretched, eclipsed, walked and streched some more. I was all cleaned up and almost on my way out the door to go to work. Thats when Mom called and told me Dad had fallen and they were going to ride in the ambulance to the hospital.
Luckily, I was right next door and I just switched parking lots and waited in the ambulance bay for the ambulance to arrive. An hour later they pulled up. The church was only a 5 minute drive away.
They brought Dad in on a strecther and place him in the hallway since he was not serious. So for the next ten hours we waited. He had a cat scan, x-rays and two MRI's. He had only broken bone fragments near his lower back and cracked some ribs. But he had a knot on the back of his head. At first he said his left eye was blurry. Then his eyes were giving him double vision.
Many people from the church came by the hospital. People who had been upstairs visiting their own loved ones came down to check on him. I think I counted about 35 or 40 total.
Finally around midnight they placed him in an ER room. The hospital guest in the room next door was Helen, a homeless person I know from the county jail. Where I work. While they were getting Dad situated I talked to Helen.
Later that week he was sent home and told to rest. A kind nurse from the hospital gave him a lift chair and a neighbor lent him a really nice walker.
The bones are healing. And the doctor says it could be three months to two years before his eyes are normal again. The double vision still gives him problems so he wears a black eye patch.
Now Mom has told me they are going camping this week and that she will be driving the truck pulling the camper.
So if you see a blue chevrolt truck with Kansas mud flaps pulling a camper, get out of the way.

It's All About..........

2008-12-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

I have been talking to this lady at work about Christ. For two years I have been talking to her. Showing her in the Bible that we are sinners, that Christ came and died on the cross and rose again. The area I had the most trouble trying to explain to her was that I know that I know when I die, I will go to heaven. I told her about a conversation my brother, mother and I had several years ago, when my brother said if anything ever happened to him, we would know where he was. I still cry over him dying, but I would never wish him to come back to earth after seeing Jesus face to face. She has doubts about knowing this in your heart before you die. At one point she stated that you don't know all the sins some people have done. So you don't know if they will go to heaven.

We work in the jail. I used the example of the thief on the cross. I used the example of the lady that the state of Texas executed for murder. That there is no sin to big that Jesus can't wash away with His blood.

Well, two weeks ago she and her son came to Wednesday night services. And praise the Lord she and her son came back tonight and she brought her boyfriend. I have talked to him about coming to church for well over five years.

Her son loves AWANA and she and her boyfriend said that it was a really good message tonight.

Maybe I am in the Spirit of Christmas after all.

My favorite

2008-12-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

One thing I really enjoy about this time of the year is college basketball. More specifically, Kentucky Wildcat basketball.

You might be asking yourself why I enjoy this. Well, my grandfather was a big fan of Kentucky basketball. I remember being at my grandparents home and having to have dinner over with by game time. I remember granddaddy having to sit extremely close the TV so he could see some of the action.

I also knew not to call during a game. Now, sometimes I would call during half time with the understanding the call was over when the game horn sounded. And if it was a really good or close game, I would call after the game was over. Or I would call when there was less than ten seconds left in the game.

If Coach Rick Pitino or Coach Tubby Smith had ever needed any comments for improvements in the game ,they should have called my granddaddy.

A few weeks ago, after an evening church service, I told the preacher I really enjoyed his Coach Tubby Smith shirt. He is originally from LSU country and had no idea what I was referring to.

Yes!

2008-12-12T16:27:00.000-08:00

On my first official day of feeling like I am alive again, I finished my Christmas shopping. I have to motivate myself now to wrap everything. Well, wrap everything that is at my house. I have two items that are to be delivered to Wal-mart on the 24th.

I remember in days past, my goal was to have everything purchased and wrapped by Thanksgiving. It is not because I don't know the true meaning of this season. I am joyful. I am blessed. I am Gods inheritance and He is mine. I am just having trouble being overly thrilled during this season.

I wonder why I am feeling this way? Is it because I am older? Is it because I can literally see the faithlessness of those around me? Does their faithlessness have an overt effect or affect on my being?

I struggle with my view point, that everyone goes out of their way to celebrate during this time of the year. I struggle with my view point, that we or I, don't do more celebrating during the Easter time of the year. I mean, Christ dying on the cross for my sin, should be my primary reason for existence. Would we really be celebrating Christmas if God had not already known that His Son was fulfilling the law?

Although I struggle with my lack of happiness, I will try to let others know that the greatest gift they can receve is Jesus. And that God loved us so much that He sent his beloved Son, so that I and everyone else can believe in Him and have everlasting life.Because that is the true meaning of Christmas.

Let it snow......

2008-12-11T14:36:00.000-08:00

I woke up around four this morning. I decided to check the weather outside. There were huge snow flakes and snow everwhere on the ground. I immediately got up and dressed for winter. I have been in the arm pit of Texas for 25 years. I have never seen it snow down here. I was absolutely thrilled!

I went outside and ran out to the street and looked around. There were huge snow flakes falling. It looked wonderful. There were huge amounts of snow piled on the tree leaves and the pine tree in my front yard.

Later today I was at the grocery store. I ran into a couple who live across the street from me. The husband said "I saw you this morning." Now I have been under the weather lately but was racking my brain as to when he could have seen me. Then it hit me that he had seen me outside this morning admiring the snow. I immediately said a prayer to God. Thanking Him. I could have ran outside in my night gown and slippers, but thankfully I got up and put jeans, sweatshirt and a coat on.

Brrr

2008-12-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

I just heard the weather man say the moisture is coming ashore. He said we could expect sleet or possibly snow flurries. Does anyone know of any cheap trips to a warm / warmer area in the world?

Brrrrrrrr

2008-12-10T06:39:00.000-08:00

Man, is it cold outside. I just saw the news and they say Austin and north of San Antonio is getting snow. What? I was just in Fredericksburg a few days ago. There was no snow!

Sometimes I wish I lived in a part of the country that has four seasons. You know. Spring, summer, fall and winter. Here in Southeast Texas we generally have two seasons. Hot and humid, and then there is cool and wet. As of lately we have thrown in the an extra season, hurricane.

I just came back from across the street. I was takeing care of the neighbors dog. I can't blame the dog for not wanting to go outside. So, I stood at the front door and let her take care of her business in the front yard and allowed her right back indoors. I think next time I trek across the tundra, aka the street, I will have on my big heavy robe and some type of head cover. At least something over my ears.

Happiness

2008-12-03T13:25:00.000-08:00

I have a new assignment at work. I now work around about twelve other co-workers and they have, well lets call it "potty" mouths.

I don't care for their words when the are frustrated.
I told them that I was going to get a jar and make them start paying for using these words.

I went up to one person this past Tuesday and requested something. When they gave me the package I said "thank you". And this person who was speaking to another co-worker actually interrupted their conversation and told me "your welcome".

I think I am making progress. YES!

Happiness

2008-12-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday I was at an AWANA pre-meeting. We get together for prayer requests and to discuss up coming events for the program.

This past Sunday was pajama night. All but three of the leaders were in PJ's. Almost all the kids were wearing their PJ's. The parents must have been really happy to take the kids home after AWANA and put them straight into bed. And we are preparing to preform a song with some dance moves. Not many moves and we are not very talented.

And we are all wearing our Pj's. At some point I sat down to observe all these adults wear Pj's and doing "AWANA aerobics". It just put a large smile on my face and heart. All these adults doing things that would encourage the kids to come to AWANA and learn Gods word.

Button on side

2008-11-27T17:23:00.000-08:00

I have added a button to the side and encourage everyone to check it out. Any time I can support a sister in Christ I will. My only catch to this is, I don't like to shop on Sundays. I have six other days to shop why can't I enjoy a day of rest.

Shower in a paint bucket

2008-11-27T08:46:00.000-08:00

I am out camping with my parents. They have a camper that if we use the couch and dinette area could sleep six. So we are out here in the hill country and enjoying the cool weather for Thanksgiving.
Then comes the frightsome time when you are camping. Getting cleaned up for the day. Yes, I mean taking a shower in the camper.
First of all, the whole bathroom feels like it is 3' X 4'. And I am being generous. Then we come to the tub/shower area. The tub is maybe 18" X 3'. The tub is about a 4" elevation, so you step over the side of the tub and you are in the shower. And you better make sure the water tempeture is how you like it before you get in. Because you can't really adjust the temp. from inside the tub. Unless you are extremely flexible. As you turn to face the shower head it is almost to your shoulder, attached to a short tube. Once I tangled with the showerhead I had most of me cleaned and a good rinse job for the rest of the bathroom area. I guess tomorrow I will try to wrestle the showerhead again and try to clean the rest of me.

My boat ride across Texas

2008-11-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever ridden in a boat pulling a skier? Have you ever done it all across Texas? Well, that is how I felt this past Monday. I was riding in my parents truck, backseat. And we are pulling a 20 foot plus camper. They decided not to take IH-10. Because they did not want to be in a lot of traffic.

We took lots of curvy back roads. There were slight hills in the road we went over. Ok, so it was like riding a boat over a cruise ships wake. Not to mention all the stop signs we stopped at. And then had to gun the truck to pull through the intersections. Add my two parents to the mix. You know the type. The ones whose blood is evidently to thin and my dad has to have the heater on.

I was one sick puppy in the back seat. Finally got some cooler air in the truck and we finally connected with a more decent size back road. Less slowing down and gunning the truck. Less curvy road. I finally was able to start looking out the windows to see some of the scenery. I put a movie in and watched it. This was great so long as I looked only at the screen and not all the scenery flying past us. Finally, we were on Hwy 290. And I could read my book without the feeling of my stomach in my throat.

Race

2008-10-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

We watched the dabate last night and it was just like watching a Kentucky basketball game. We were yelling at the tv and pumping our fists in the air. I tell you, a good debate can be a lot of exercise. Next time I need to carb up.

Fall

2008-10-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

My mother almost dropped her pillows and computer when she saw me. She had no idea that I was here. Dad came in with more luggage and did a double take when he saw me.
We went down to the truck stop in Arlington for dinner. Luke's has been spending a lot of money fixing up the place, including the parking lot. We have, in the past, parked anywhere in a gravel parking lot. Now there are curbs and a paved parking area.
On they way home dad was telling us he was seeing flashes of light in the back seat. There were no flashes of light in the truck. So mom, dad and I spent the day in Paducah with doctors appointments. What it all boiled down to was the doctors said that this "seeing flashes of light" was just a part of growing old. Oh the joys of growing old. The waking up in the morning hopeing to stand erect and be able to walk, dress ourselves and still go out and make a difference in the world.
Tonight we are all watching the VP debate. I have never seen so much attention to a debate between two people. I hope both canidates are thorough and nothing be left unsaid.

Fall

2008-10-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

I have driven to Kentucky to my grandmothers home. My parents should be arriving this evening. I am surprising my mother by being here to celebrate her birthday.
Right now I am out on the back deck with the fan blowing enjoying some cooler tempertures. Last night it got down into the mid 40's. I am having so much fun with this laptop and wireless computer. How did I ever survive without it i will never know.

Bible in a minute

2008-09-26T16:59:00.001-07:00

http://video.tagged.com/?v=Ar_k8JjVWQA&ect=konzs9x&al=1

Hurricane Ike: Is it over?

2008-09-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

Since moving home from the courthouse...............my life is not not all that different. I went to work and I have worked a couple of overtimes.

The only disruption is my church and sister church are not fully up and running.
And it might be a while. So we only have morning services on Sunday. No Bible studies, child care, evening services or services throughout the week. No AWANA anywhere.

My parents left yesterday for their fall tour of the middle US. Tonight they are in Rolla Mo. Then it is off to Lake St. Louis early next week. I think I will surprise them and meet them in Kentucky. Moms birthday is a week from this Sunday. And she will be spending it with her mother, so............I will be spending it with her.

I guess I better call my grandmother and see if she is up to another guest next week. Or I could just show up Monday and surprise her also. No, that is so not nice.

Hurricane Ike: moving out

2008-09-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Yes! We were allowed to move out of the courthouse yesterday. I originally did not bring much stuff but I had to make two trips to get all my stuff out. I had taken some stuff home but I had returned with my computer and fan......
All this to say that I am glad to be home. The cats are glad I am home too! I think I had them as blankets for the whole night. And to tell you the truth, I am glad to be sleeping in my own bed. So glad that I nearly spent most of the day laying around.
I hope we don't have to do this again. At least not to soon.

Hurricane Ike : One more day

2008-09-18T16:53:00.001-07:00

Another day of guarding the water and ice.
I have meet some rather interesting truck drivers. I thought it would be interesting driving a truck all over the USA. But I don't think that would be a job for me. You have to drive in these big cabs. Pulling who knows what in the trailer. And more than likely wind up sitting in dusty parking lots for extended periods of time.

And then have you ever been to a truck stop. GROSS! And that is where you are to shower while you wait in line to fill your fuel tank! Double GROSS!

I guess all jobs do have their ups/downs.

Hurricane Ike: Good vs Bad

2008-09-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

A lot more people have made it back to town.

On one hand that is good, they can check out their homes.

On the other, it is bad.

The stop lights are not working yet.
The waiting in line for fuel, ice, water and food have more than triple in size.
All of this while we have several hundred contractors in the area trying to cut down trees, repair electrical lines and power up the water and sewer systems.

It is just frustrating to me.

All the cities and cthe ounty need is 7 - 10 days to get the area prepared to run normally.

That is 7 - 10 days where all they have to do is concentrate on the infrastructure and not work accidents, monitor grocery stores and curfew violators.

Hurricane Ike : Pink

2008-09-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

I just went down for dinner. Everyone said I had pink cheeks. I knew that after working outside today, that my left forearm was a little sunburned, but I did not know that my cheeks and forehead were a little burnt also. Who knew that after a hurricane I would get a light sunburn?

Hurricane Ike : continues

2008-09-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is my second hurricane to semi evacuate for. The whole community was sent away and then we took care of the county inmates. The hurricane came and went and now we are dealing with the aftermath.
I have been sent out to guard water and ice for two days this week. It makes me think about the end times when food and fresh water will be so valuable.
I now have a better understanding why the community is asked to stay away for about two weeks. The destruction of property and lives (animal and human) is horrible. There is enough work for all local agencies and other agencies to deal with without having to worry about attacking the crime rate.
FEMA is having to assist in giving out water and ice when they could be doing assessments.
Red Cross could be helping the few stragglers who refused to leave and who have survived the hurricane. Or they could be of more assistance to the poor helpless souls who chose to stay and paid the price with their lives. Red Cross could be spending time finding and contacting the families about the deaths but are now faced with the enormous task of caring for people who will not let us do our jobs.

hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

I was able to sleep thru the first part of Ike hitting Beaumont. Then I had to go to work. In a 9 story building with no air conditioning. We all sweated so much. Of course, the elevators were not working and my co-worker who smokes made a lot of trips up and down the stairs in order to go outside during the hurricane and smoke.

I check my home all looks good there. No electricity but a freezing cold shower always puts me in a good mood.

God has been so good to me.

AWANA

2008-09-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

I need some help. I am trying to help at my church and I think I am in over my head. Any suggestions?

Siesta Fiesta

2008-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful time visiting with everyone in San Antonio. I arrived on Thursday afternoon in time to take the riverboat cruise. I still can't believe that we were told to be quiet by the other tourists.

Next time I will wear my tennis shoes everywhere! My blisters and sores are gone but the memory of the pain lingers on.

I think the best time was the PJ party Saturday night.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

contests

2008-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am so not technical and I have found this blogger who is partnering with Best Buy and giving away a MP3 with blue tooth. I am not certain what all that means but I certainly would like to win it. I would like to download the Bible and all my cool Christian artists so I can listen while I drive and exercise. Now, I won't be doing both at the same time mind you. Unless you consider white knuckle gripping of the steering wheel and singing at the top of my off key lungs exercise.

Christ

2007-12-18T02:37:00.000-08:00

I have been pondering about a line from "Amazing Grace" this weekend. One guy said "I was a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior." This is the whole meaning of Christmas. Christ is a Great Savior.

Holidays

2007-12-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

In one week we leave to go away for a small Christmas in gathering. Just my parents, sister-in-law, nephew and I. No Mark. I wonder how we will do. What will we do. Then my parents and I are flying to Florida to spend time with extended family. y cousin has just given birth to her fifth baby. I wonder what they will name her?

ouch!

2007-11-10T01:23:00.000-08:00

Earlier ths week I was talking to an employee. When suddenly, just out of the blue, my right jaw pops! Ouch! This has only happened one other time and that was when the dentist had spent way to long in my mouth fixing something. I complained to him then and he prescribed Vioxx. I don't want to take that now, but what should I do for a jaw that aches?

Work

2007-10-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have not been blogging lately. But you have to agree that this is not the type of year I expected. I have been reading other posts and posting comments on them. Thank goodness they are there. To give my mind something else to think about. I have started working at least one extra shift a week at work. That alone can wear a person out.
So, I can't wait for the Christmas Tour of Homes to start. I love seeing all the decorations.

Geocaching

2007-06-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

I am about to make a pocket query. A friend and I amre going to go geocaching this weekend. This sounds like a high technology level game. But it is really not that hard. We just use the militaries billion dollar satilites to go searching the woods for small plastic containers.
Hey, it gets you off the couch and outside for a few hours. It has you using your mind and you might consider it excercise. You would be amaze at what a person might try to do just to find a cache.

Work

2007-06-16T01:27:00.001-07:00

I am now back to work. When I am here, it is like I am in another world. It is not until I get home that I think about my brother. I think of my brother even more when I am with my parents and sister-in-law. My nephew is just like my brother in some of his mannerisms. I guess tha is a good thing. This first year of many first without my brother is going to be difficult.

May 2007

2007-05-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

The month of May was one I was really looking forward to. I went on a wonderful cruise. A Christian cruise. I went to 16 christian concerts in one week. I was on such a spiritual high. Then on May 11th my brother Mark was killed in a car accident. He was just nine days shy of his 41st birthday. It is not so much that I am sad about his death. Because I know he is in heaven celebrating Jesus. But I am sad that all the things we had to look forward to I will have to face without him. He did not want to have a party for our parents 40th anniversary. He wanted to wait until their 50th. And now he is not here. His son is only eleven. He has not been on his first date. Or graduated from high school. Gone off to college. Or any of the usual teenager things.

Music Boat

2007-04-25T02:36:00.000-07:00

I am leaving next week to go on vacation. I am flying to Miami and catching a cruise ship. It called the Music Boat. There are about a dozen christian artists who will be performing concerts throughout the week. David Nasser will be doing mornng devotions and there will be autograph sessions.
I have two roommates for this cruise. I have not met either one of them. But we have e-mailed each other a few times. One is from Maine and the other Kansas. We are all excited and nervous.
The cruise ship is going to Jamaica. A place I have never been to before. I don't know if I should get off the boat or just stay on board and enjoy the sights.
I guess maybe some of my nervousness will disspate when I finally take the time to pack my suitcase. Its not like they will have a Wal-Mart I could run to if I forget something important.

I enjoy jokes, I hope you enjoy this one

2007-04-24T00:21:00.000-07:00

-->The Pope vs. MoisheAbout a century or two ago, the Pope challenged the Jewish community of Rome to a debate.The Jews looked around for a champion who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer. It was too risky. So they finally picked an old man named Moishe who spent his life sweeping up after people to represent them. Being old and poor, he had less to lose, so he agreed. He asked only for one addition to the rules of debate. Not being used to saying very much, he asked that neither side be allowed to talk. The Pope agreed.The day of the great debate came. Moishe and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Moishe looked back at him and raised one finger. The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Moishe pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Moishe pulled out an apple. The Pope stood up and said, "I give up. This man is too good. The Jews win."An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what happened. The Pope said, "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger, to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show him, that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground, showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"Meanwhile, the Jewish community had crowded around Moishe, amazed that this old, almost feeble-minded man had done what all their scholars had insisted was impossible. "What happened?" they asked."Well," said Moishe, "first he said to me that the Jews had three days to get out of here. I told him that not one of us was leaving. Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of Jews. I let him know that we were staying right here.""And then?" asked a woman."I don't know," said Moishe. "He took out his lunch and I took out mine."

Challenge #5

2007-04-21T02:48:00.001-07:00

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Darlene Schacht,, the founder and editor of CWO Magazine, Uniting Women of Faith.

Write a post telling us some of the ways God has blessed you through blogging.

I have just recently been introduced to blogging. I have been reading other peoples blog mostly. However, I recently responded to a question by "Boomama" and the next day she had sent me an email telling me that she really enjoyed something in my response. Can I tell you that just gave a little boost in my day.
Also, the other day we were given a chance to donate some money to a young couple who was traveling out of town for a doctors appointment. I was not able to give much. But my little amount with everyone else's little amount was a total blessing to this couple.
But what ever my money contribution, it could not be compared to the amount of time I spent praying for this little family. Spending time with our Father was how I was blessed.

!st

2007-04-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

This is my first time posting and on my very own Blog site. I pray that God will keep this a wholesome site where others may join in the conversation.