Day 132

Saturday:
What a great picture this is. I wish I could say this is where I was and that those might be my dogs, but unfortunately I can't. This was the front of a post card I received from my dogs' vet. But this afternoon I just sat and took it all in. 
It makes me think of summer and being somewhere in a cabin on a lake. And wouldn't I love to be there. Feeling a cool breeze coming off the water. Having a boat at my disposal to just run around the lake.  Sitting on a screened-in porch as the sun goes down. Listening to bugs and critters in the cool of the evening. 
I just may need to rent some summer movies like: 

National Lampoon's Vacation 

Summer Rental

What About Bob? 

Meatballs

Stand by Me (look for Ray Brower in that one)

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead

Camp Nowhere

Indian Summer

To Kill a Mockingbird

On Golden Pond

Dirty Dancing

And for now, I'll just think about the summers that I've enjoyed. Think about what made them so fun and memorable and I'll look at my postcard again. 

Day 131

Today was just a very quiet, peaceful, uneventful Friday. I had so many plans to do while I stayed home. But, I didn't do much of anything except rest. 
This morning I talked with Wade on Skype for about an hour, as usual. Then I just puttered (old people get to say 'puttered') around most of the day. I have another injured dog so I was glad to be at home and available for her because she likes her mommy near when she's not feeling good.

 This even-ing Jared and I drove to McDon-ald's to pick up dinner and then we sat in front of the tv and watched a movie with our dinner. "How to Train Your Dragon". It was good - I think we've both seen it before, but it was still good again the second time around. 
When it was time for Jared to go downstairs we walked outside and saw two large frogs sitting alongside the pond. He wanted to show me some snakes he had caught, but they are lose in the yard now. Apparently we have LOTS of snakes out there. 
The weather is getting a little warmer.
I feel a little sad that I didn't get more done today, but I have tomorrow too with no plans so perhaps I can do more then. 

Day 130

What's In A Name? 

My whole life, it seems,  I have had to deal with people that mess up my name. Either they can't pronounce it or they can't spell it. Sometimes they just use a name that they thought was me but it's not. I've been Janet, Janelle, Jean, Jennifer and multiple other "J" names. I've even actually been called Susan, too.  
For my high school senior yearbook I purchased the option to have my name engraved on the cover - what I got back was:

"Janette Warson" 

- are you kidding me?? Even my own step-mother could not remember my last name and she called all of us the "Bowers". Sometimes when I see a minor misspelling, I feel like growling a low, irritated snarl.  
In all of my mentoring and teacher training, I've been taught that one of the most important things you can do for a child is..... to remember and use their name. It's one way to let them know that they are someone - they are special - they are important to others. And I've seen their faces light up when I cross children in the hallways (at church and at schools) and greet them by name. 
One of the traditions that we practice during church service is moving around the sanctuary and greeting people.  And last Sunday, a dear, sweet lady came and gave me a hug and called me a different name while she's hugging me. And at first it bothered me, it grated on me, I kept rolling that over and over in my head.
I knew her heart was in the right place and she was reaching out in love, but I couldn't get it out of my head. As the afternoon went on, I was getting more and more upset with myself for holding onto such a petty offense. And then God had a conversation with me. And I started looking in His Word for guidance on this topic. I was reassured by the scriptures that I found:

"....I know you by name and you have found favor with me."

Exodus 33:12

"I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

Isaiah 43:1

".....from my mother's womb he has spoken my name"

Isaiah 49:1

".....but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Luke 10:20

How very comforting that the Almighty God, the great Hashem named me before I was born, knows my name, stores my name in heaven before me. 

Even this past Wednesday evening in our children's program the song that was chosen by the Children's Pastor and sung by all of us had these words:

"I am not forgotten,

I am not forgotten,

I am not forgotten,

God knows my name." 

This was the chorus (and imagine in your head all of us standing, singing and dancing - because children dance) and at first I was just mindlessly singing the words but all of a sudden - I realized, just as if I was hit over the head....... I was singing words that spoke to ME about this very subject. How God-like to minister to me while I work with these children. And in perfect "God-timing". Awesome! 

So what is so important about this earthly name? Did you ever notice that many people written about in the Bible have NEW names?? 

Abram became Abraham

Sarai became Sarah

Hoshea became Joshua

Jacob became Israel

Saul became Paul

Levi became Matthew

Simon became Peter

Did they complain with their new names? I doubt it. In most cases, the LORD renamed them new names to better describe their qualities, their assets, their hearts. 

So now, looking a little further I discovered this:

"I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

Rev. 2:17

I am going to receive a white stone with a NEW NAME! Given to me by God and known only to me. But some day I will hear His voice speaking my name, my new name! And I am absolutely positive when he speaks it, I will know he is speaking to me. So I don't care about this earthly name, I'm anticipating my new name. 

Thank you, Lord, for helping me take the focus from myself and placing it where it rightfully belongs:

"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."

Zechariah 14:9

Day 129

Another Wednesday is here and almost gone. This morning I went to the post office in Enon to mail a package to Wade. Because it is going to an APO address and it is a package, I have to fill out this big form every time and they have to do some extra stuff to packages at the post office. Well, this morning the clerk types in the zip code - 'humphs' and says, "That's an invalid zip code". I knew I had written the right one on the paperwork. 

So he tries again and again. Same results. 
"Is he out on maneuvers?"
"No, he's on base."
"Can you call him?"
"Uh, no......... "
So he looks at his hard copy (paper) of all the APO zip codes and there it is. 09375. Oh, but wait - - that paper is dated June 30th so really, that's outdated. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!? So I'm starting to get a little irritated. Am I supposed to just take the package back home and hope that the next time when I bring it back to the post office the zip code will magically be ok???
Then he says, "Well, I could force another APO zip code on there." 
So I told him that would be fine and he was able to finish processing the silly paperwork. So the computer "thinks" we are now sending the package to 09372. What is the difference, is what I want to know? If I had addressed an envelope to the same address and dropped it into the slot, it would still go there even if the zip code was invalid. So, next time I go to the post office, I will be prepared. 
Just another speed bump in my life. Gotta love those snags that make life interesting. 

My contri-bution for the Wednes-day night kids was creating brains. The body part we were discussing tonight would be brains and how they help us to determine what actions we take voluntarily and involuntarily. Most of our older kids were actually at camp this week, so we mostly had the younger crowd. Four years old to about 2nd grade. And we had to simplify our lessons. Plus we only had 15 kids tonight - a younger and smaller class. 

However, they did think it was pretty cool to be able to eat brains.
The green brain was lime jello and the gray brain was peach jello with condensed milk and food coloring. Pretty gross and jiggly. Another good night of memories. 

This picture is Pastor Patty and Allyson Angles spritzing Reddi Whip on the bowls of brains. 
I stopped and picked up dinner at Wal-mart on my way home. I have one more day of Bible study to finish tonight before my class tomorrow morning at 9:30. 

Day 128

Another warm day. According to Wade's standards 95 degrees is just warm. But the humidity cranks that 95 up to seem like over 100 degrees here in Springfield. Maybe we'll get more thunderstorms tonight.  

Just for fun I posted this picture. These are actually relatives of Wade's.
Their last name is Timmons - I believe they're cousins somehow. 

I've been on the go most of the day. I had an early doctor's appointment. Then to Hannah House and the finances, plus I took one of the residents to her counseling session on the other side of Springfield. 
I had a pedicure this afternoon and went to Weight Watchers tonight. I'm also working on some jello molds for snack for tomorrow night with the kids. I'll have pictures of that tomorrow. It's gonna be cool!! 
I heard from Wade this morning and he is overloaded with work. He's super-dee-dooper busy.
Sorry for the brief-ness, but there's not much to report tonight.  

Day 127

Tonight will be short and sweet. I skyped with Wade this morning. He says it's hot, hot, hot and feels as humid as Georgia. He just feels like he's melting. But his air conditioner works and we had a nice visit. 
I bowled this afternoon with Peggy & Jared. Jared is improving so much and bowled really well today. And Peggy did great, I think she won both games. I always see someone else from church bowling when we go. Right at the end of the last game (10th frame), a thunderstorm came through and knocked the power out at the alley. But fortunately when it came back up, it was restored to right where we left off. 
We stopped for ice cream at Dairy Queen on the way home. 
I was supposed to have a board meeting at the church tonight. Apparently I didn't get the message (or something like that). No one from my group showed up and I never got an email or call that it had been canceled, postponed, or rescheduled. That was a little irritating, but I went to Kroger and picked up a couple of groceries while I was in the neighborhood. 
We are expecting more severe thunderstorms this evening and on into tomorrow morning. Glad to be home where I can watch from my windows or doors. 

Day 126

Today was Sunday and Wade was planning on skyping with our Sunday School class. I went to church with Peggy, Jaide, and Jared. Jaide was beside herself because right after church she would be leaving for Camp Marengo for a week. 

On our way into the church building (we used a different door than we nor-mally do) and there on a bulle-tin board was a photo tribute to all current servicemen for the 4th of July. 

But there down on the very bottom was a photo of Wade too. No one told me it was there. That was a nice sur-prise. I think they are planning on keeping the board up for a while. It's on the wall next to the Fireside Room. 
So after church we hung around to say goodbye to Jaide as she drove off to Camp Marengo. 

There are so many kids going this week that they had to use the BIG bus. The BIG bus with NO air con-ditioning.  

Phew!! It's gonna be a long hot drive for all those kids. Around 25 children and 7-8 teenagers working as counse-lors. There was a delay and all the parents and other family members stood out in the sun on the blacktop while the kids baked in the bus. The trip to camp will take 90 minutes and they will be returning on Friday around noon.  
We stopped and picked up Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken for lunch to take home. We had a nice meal together; Jason, Peggy, Jared, and I. 
Unfortunately, we didn't get to skype with Wade this morning due to a mix up with the computers. We're going to try it again next week. But, I did get an email from Wade this morning and he told me he got mail today. So he had at least 3 boxes of goodies and other miscellaneous items to go through. I am looking forward to my skype session with him tomorrow morning.