Monday Monday~A Little This and That

 It's Monday evening already! I intended to write something this morning, but the day kind of got away from me.  This morning hubby couldn't get his laptop to work properly. It appeared that the system itself was working, but the screen was black and we tried every way recommended by experts online to troubleshoot it and get it to turn back on, all  to no avail.  Well, hubby enjoys sitting with his laptop and doing whatever it is he enjoys doing there for a very good part of the day.  We started looking online (on my desktop computer) for parts to repair it (if we could figure out how to do it ourselves), and then when that didn't seem to be going anywhere, we looked for a new (refurbished) laptop online...and even the refurbished ones are getting pricey and the ones that were more affordable still had the Windows 10 operating system, and now he's gotten used to Windows 11 and didn't want to go back to 10. (I have Windows 10 on my computer, but I don't have any desire to move to anything else at this point until I have to).  We were getting frustrated with the whole situation, when I suddenly had a bright idea! 

Recently we purchased a used smaller flat screen TV at a yard sale. We really didn't have any particular plan for it, but the price was right and it worked, and we only had one TV in our house and thought it might be a good idea to have a "spare" to be used in the guest room or in Scott's room when he comes home occasionally to spend the night.  I read online that we could hook up a TV to the laptop with an HDMI cord, and after a search through the house in all the places I could think of, I found one in Scott's room that worked perfectly. And so after rearranging some little tables to accommodate the TV and his laptop from his recliner, here's the result:

He uses a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway with his laptop, so the set up works great, and he can actually SEE the computer screen now! LOL. Before he was always trying to adjust glasses and even a magnifying glass to see the screen on the laptop!  So this is a BIG (pun intended) improvement for him. However, it kind of takes up a lot of space in the living room and isn't exactly ideal, but it will do until we can figure out what else to do.  We really didn't want to have to spend more money on a new computer right now, because I just had to replace our printer this past week!

My old printer was giving me all kinds of trouble, and kept saying there was a paper jam when there was NO jam anywhere, and it would take 3 or 4 times over and over trying to get it to print one page, and it was extremely frustrating. Finally the other day it just quit printing altogether, and so that was that, and I ordered a new one. It's a less expensive one than what I had, but it appears to be adequate for our home office needs. I really don't do a lot of printing anymore, but when I need to, I want it done NOW and not have to keep trying over and over again.  So there! We took care of THAT!  LOL.  It's just crazy that we should have all these technical issues all at once, but our equipment was getting old, and you know what happens when your equipment gets old...like our bodies...they break down. LOL.

I like what God tells the "House of Jacob and the remnant of the house of Israel" in the following verses...and even though He's speaking specifically to them, I believe we can also  glean some words of hope and encouragement from these verses as well, particularly verse 4...

 Isaiah 46:3-4

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,

And all the remnant of the house of Israel,

Who have been upheld by Me from birth,

Who have been carried from the womb:

4 Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

I do believe that God carries us personally from the womb and into our old age, and that He will indeed carry us until the day He calls us home. That is a great comfort to me.

Switching gears here with a few random photos...

Remember last week I showed you our first tomato from our garden?

Welll, yes, it was delicious!  I asked hubby if he wanted any of it and he said no, so I just had to eat the whole thing by myself. LOL.  Here it is on top of my salad, and it certainly was good!  Thankfully there's a lot more growing out there so we should be enjoying them for a while!! Praise God!!

If you are on my Facebook page you may have already seen this...Saturday, May 16th, would have been my parents 84th wedding anniversary.  They did manage to get almost to their 64th anniversary together, and the picture below on the right was taken at their 60th anniversary.   Anyway, I was happy to see these roses growing just in time to be picked in memory of their anniversary.  Here's a link to a story I wrote about my parents on a previous anniversary.

Later that day hubby was watching the movie "Blackbeard" on TV, and I remembered that my Uncle had a bit part in that movie, so we scrolled through it until we found the exact spot where he could be seen:

And there he was!  Here's a close up:

And here he is below, with my grandfather (his father), and my mom. This was taken when he came home from WWII.   After he got out of the Marines, he went to Hollywood and was in a lot of movies during the late 40's and early 50's. They were only bit parts, and I don't know that he ever had a speaking part. But he enjoyed doing a lot of parts where he had to be a "muscle man", and he always kept himself in great shape even up until he was an old man in his late 80's...he'd still go to the gym and work out! And actually, during the 1960's he used to have an exercise show on TV in the Columbus, Ohio area. It was called "Tone Up With Tedlie".    He led a very active life!

Speaking of "active life"...well, maybe not...Here's some pictures of Blackie this evening on the back porch...just because...

He really doesn't like to have his picture taken. LOL.

It's getting late so I guess I will close with this beautiful prayer and benediction from the Apostle Paul...

Ephesians 3:14-21

"14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Amen! And until next time, be blessed my friends.

Box Full of Memories -- Updated 9-25-2016

Today is my birthday, and it has been a weekend full of blessings and joy and celebration with family and friends. I am always amazed at how God brings sweet surprises out of the woodwork on my special day...and this year was no exception.  I may write more about that later.

In scrolling back through things that I wrote on previous birthdays, I came across this one that always brings back special memories.  That "box full of memories" is close by to peruse and enjoy whenever the mood hits me. It is always a joy-giver and tear-jerker to go through...but the memories are all pleasant and bittersweet.  I am so thankful for the precious heritage God has given me. Read on and enjoy.

Original Post 9-23-13:

My birthday isn't for a couple more days, but we celebrated over the weekend so we could have family and friends together to share in the fun. As you can see, I was blessed with two apple pies and one Cinderella Princess cake...and a lot of candles to blow out.

I closed my eyes and listened as my family sang the familiar strain of 

"Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear (Pam), (Mom) (Aunt Pam),

Happy Birthday to you!"

I was actually enjoying the moment so much, and directing the choir as they sang,

It sounded like the angels were singing.

And then I had to blow out the candles...all of them, if I wanted my wish to come true!

I started at the pies and went all the way down to the cake...and I almost made it...but not quite. 

I guess my wish won't come true...but that's okay.  God is working on it. He knows exactly

what I need and want...and He'll take care of it. He always has and always will.

So, after the singing and the blowing and cheers I opened gifts and had a marvelous time.

We were at my sister's home. I was sitting in front of my grandmother's antique china cabinet,

that was passed down to my mother, and then to my sister 

after both my parents joined each other in heaven.

My sister's house is the only place left here in our home state where we have actual

memories of having our parents with us in that place. My parents' home has been sold to strangers, and it wouldn't be the same anyway without them and all the familiar things that we enjoyed in their home.

So being in my sister's home, with my mother's china cabinet behind me, I felt somewhat at home.

I kept waiting to hear my parents' voices join in the singing...that was one of their favorite times...birthdays.

Never a birthday went by that they didn't call us up and sing to us over the phone if we couldn't be

together in person. It was a family tradition...one of the best kinds.

I missed them...but I could hear them singing in my heart.

Well, after the gifts were all opened my niece placed a plastic container in my lap and said,

"Aunt Pam, here is a box from Grandma and Grandpa's house that has your name on it."

Well, I kind of knew what it was, but I wasn't prepared for the flood of memories that

I was about to have hit me.

My parents were great "savers".  They saved cards, letters, pictures...and much much more.

Actually, I had told my mother many times over the years when we lived far away from

them to be sure and save my letters that I wrote them, because someday I would

need them to write a book!

My mother did just that.

She saved them all.

I only wish I'd written more!

Be sure to click on pictures to enlarge for viewing.

But the ones she saved were all very special...letters written to them when I found out I was pregnant with our first child, and I was one state away from home, and very sick.  I spent the first three months not holding down anything...and missing my mama so much. But I sounded brave in my letters. I even told them how it felt the first time I felt the baby move...and how big I was getting and how I was making maternity dresses.
I never realized I had written so many details...what a thrill to find these letters again. I read them to my now 42 year old son...the one I was carrying when I was so pukey sick that I wound up in the hospital for a week on IV's....He said he was sorry.  I'm not sorry. He was worth it.

Then there were letters from when we went away to prepare for the ministry...and I shared a little of the hardships we endured while in Bible College...but I also shared the joy of opening our home for a ladies' Bible study with unsaved women in our apartment complex...something I said I had never done before and I said how wonderful it felt to share Christ with my neighbors. I'm so glad she saved that letter. I'd forgotten how special that time was...

Then there were many pictures...pictures of our babies, newborn and sweet, growing and cute, pictures from all over the country, wherever our journeys took us as we served the Lord in the ministry. There were even little hand written letters to Grandma and Grandpa from our boys...so sweet and scribbly, and priceless.

Yes, this was the best birthday present ever.  A gift to me from my wonderful Mom and Dad, who held these letters as something to be treasured...the letters to home from their baby daughter.

I know why they saved them.

Not just because I asked them to.

They would've done it anyway.

Because they loved me and cherished me 

and my little family. 

They brought me into this world,

and they loved me until they left this world.

Just like Jesus loves me and cherishes me

and my little family.

I'll bet He saves all my letters (my prayers to Him)

in His heart

and He answers them one by one.

(I noticed my mother often put a little note on the envelopes of my letters

with a date showing when she replied to my letter)

Why? Because He loves me.

He truly brought me into this world

and then

He gave His life for me.

He made it possible for me

to join Him someday in heaven

and be with Him for eternity.

My parents are there too...

they'll be waiting for me at the gate I am certain.

The box full of memories is something to treasure.

But even better than that is the knowledge that this is not all there is to life.

My "treasure is in Heaven ~ 

where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do 

not break in and steal."

Matthew 6:20

Even so, 

this was a pretty special birthday present 

from my Mom and Dad.

Don't you agree?

Thanks Mom and Dad.

I love you.