12-31-13

Happy new year to all

Spent the morning studying for a Sunday school lesson. Then I went to sonny and Judy's for supper.  Brenda and jeff and kids were there and so was becky and her girls. 

We had fun. 

Thanks to all for a good year. Yes I lost my wife but I know that she is in a much better place. She left me here to continue on so that is what I am trying to do. So many of you have helped me. I appreciate it. 

Won't stay up for midnight 

12-30-13

This morning I spent in front of the fireplace. Couldn't seem to get warm. Then I started putting away the Christmas decorations. Got them all taken down and put away. While I was at it I cleaned the house and did a little dusting. One of those jobs that I am not good at.  

So if you want to do a white glove inspection now is the time. Otherwise get the washer ready to clean the gloves. 

12-29-13

Went to church. Had children's message. Talked about New Years resolutions. We need to rely on God to help us keep theses resolutions per proverbs 16:3

Leanna and brian left from here snd went to Branson. 

This evening at church the pastor challenged us to pray for the upcoming year

12-28-13

So this morning david and sarah arrived. David was sick. I think he had too much fun in Disney while on vacation. So we had our Christmas and then we went to spend time with the thompsons. Had great fun eating and talking and playing games. Then we ate some more and played more games and then we talked even more. So now it is time to get back to real life. 

Remember Sunday is coming. 

12-27-13

Got up early and drove to kansas. Leanna and brian are driving up tonight david and sarah will drive up in the morning. We will then have our Christmas and then go to my brothers. Brenda and jeff and kids and bard will be here from virginia so we will spend the day with them 

It is good to have family that are fun to be around 

12-26-13

Spent the morning with VMI  getting ready to go to Africa in January. Pastor Hofmann and I will leave January 20 for Uganda. We will teach for a week then head to Kenya and be there a week. 

Pray that we will say and do what God wants us to say and do. Also that the people will hear what God wants them to hear

Then this evening we went to ac and virginia with mike melissa Hayden david sarah leanna and brian. Yep the THEM Christmas. Had a great time. I very much enjoy that group of people. We ate and played games. We taught Hayden how to play pit. It was fun. 

12-25-13

Merry Christmas to all

Drove to OKC today. Had lunch with david and sarah. This evening we had an Italian dinner. Sarah makes the best lasagna   Yep I ate way too much. We had 13 for dinner. Then some played nerf war while others talked. Then ac and virginia left to go pick up mike melissa and Hayden at the airport. 

It was a good day with family and friends. 

12-24-13

Things began to melt but not a lot. Spent the day getting ready for Christmas. You know the last minute things

Finished wrapping the last of the packages. Most of them have been wrapped for a month. 

Made it to church for a special candle lite service.  Very well done. Made all of us think about the real reason for the celebration. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin so that He could die on the cross for our sins. Thank you God for allowing your son to die for us on earth. 

Hope and pray that you all have a great Christmas Day. I will be traveling to be with david sarah leanna and brian. 

Got to get to bed early because I heard that Santa has already been to England and is headed this way

12-23-13

Happy birthday ac. 

Today sonny judy and brad came down and we put an attic stairway in. Judy fixed some venison chilli. It was really good. I appreciate sonny and brad helping me get the stairway in. 

The high today was 24 SO the ice did not melt. We have about 1/4 inch of ice on everything. The poor oat tree limbs are touching the ground with the weight of the ice. Tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 40 so it should melt a lot of the ice 

Only one day of shopping left for Christmas. 

12-22-13

Looked outside this morning and everything was covered in ice. My poor flag showed that there was no wind. It looked pretty if you didn't have to work in it. 

Made it to church. Not bad getting there but then came home and stayed in front of the fireplace

This evening I had two deer come into the yard. Once Elijah saw them he chased them out of the yard and into the wooded area. 

12-21-13

Happy birthday judy. David and sarah made it home from Florida. Drove all night and day in the rain brad flew home for Christmas and made it home this evening   brian went hunting and made it home this afternoon. Mike and melissa are still traveling to see mikes parents. Thanks for all the prayers. Today woke up to 1/4 inch of ice on the ground. Made it had to walk and or drive. I did go to herb and Dorothy's for lunch. The rest of the time I spent sitting in front of the fireplace and working on the computer

Notice the Christmas stockings that benjamin is wearing

Remember Sunday is coming

12-20-13

Spent the morning in front of the fireplace working on the computer. Tihis afternoon I went to the kesslers and watched them and their 6 grandchildren make candy and Christmas cookies. My job was to sample and make sure everything was good. It is a hard job but someone has to do the taste test

We are supposed to get icy rain tonight about midnight. Imam very thankful for a nice house and a roof over my head

12-19-13

Spent the day helping to deliver the gift of love. It is humbling to realize that others right here in Labette county are in need. Many of the needs are common needs some as a result of tragedy in the families. I would just ask that you pray for those in need. We don't have to know them to pray for them. The bible teaches us that we need to love others as we love ourselves. 

Got information today  that January 20 Larry Hofmann and I will be traveling to Uganda to teach pastors then we will go in to Kenya. Pray that the logistics will be handled and that we will be able to honor God with what we say do and how we react to adversity. 

12-18-13

Spent the afternoon delivering "gift of love" packages to several people in Labette county. Gift of love is where needy people complete an application and the our church and the community take food and Christmas presents to these families. This year there were 41 such families. Still have deliveries tomorrow. Then tonight we took 91 youth and Awana kids out to sing Christmas songs to families. It was a lot of fun and many families enjoyed the singing

Merry Christmas to all

12-17-13

Left the house at 5 this morning to go to Batesville. I went to visit with Jim and jana patrick. It was good to have lunch with Jim jana and jenny patrick. They are good Girl Scout friends who moved from the OKC area several years ago. 

My neighbor went with me. Ok she drove. While in Batesville her daughter brought the two grandchildren for nancy and I to being back to kansas. They will spend a week with grandma and grandpa. They are being transferred by the military and will have the movers there this week so while we were that close they brought the kids to Batesville and then we brought them to kansas

It was good to see Kayla and dan and their two kids. It was a six hour ride but they were very good. 

12-16-13

Well today I went to pay property taxes. Something you have to do. Then I went to take care of my brothers cows. Broke ice for the last time. The weather is getting warm just in time for my brother to get home.   Then I cleaned out my freezer. Still have the freezer that is with the refrigerator but will do that later 

This evening I went to a grade  school basketball game to watch david and Suzzann's granddaughter pay. Then had a mission committee meeting at church. 

12-15-13

Fixed breakfast for leanna and brian. Then we went to church   After church we went to lunch. Then they left to head back home. It was fun to have them here for the weekend

This evening was the Christmas program for the church. It was great. 19 kids performed. It was awesome. Unusual but awesome

12-14-13

Got up and fixed breakfast for brian and leanna at 5 this morning. At 10 leanna and I went to the car wash. We washed to red convertible. Today was the frirst time that I drove in a parade. We put the top down and leanna and I had two young ladies dressed up in their finest "southern belle" dresses sit on the back   Thanks Hanna and Elizabeth. I know you both had to be cold but you did a great job. I had the heater on high but the girls were sitting in the open. At the start of the parade the team tire was 29. 

Had a good time and saw lots of people that someone in our car knew. 

Then leanna and I took a nap. Regular occurrence at this house. Then I finished my Christmas letter. So you should get a letter from me soon. 

Remember Sunday is coming 

12-13-13

Happy Friday the 13th. Had an upset stomach last night. So just rested this morning. Then ace hardware called and said that what I had ordered yesterday was in the store. So Elijah and I went to parsons and picked up a stairway for the attic

Then I started working on the Christmas letter. Finally got it the way I wanted with help from leanna. So I spent all evening addressing envelopes. Leanna and brian arrived at 10:20 so I was staying to see them 

The Altamont Christmas parade is tomorrow. I am driving the mayor and his wife. 

12-12-13

Cold but warming up. Got above freezing. We are expecting freezing rain tonight. Shouldn't last as it will get above freezing tomorrow

Spent the morning taking care of my brothers cows. Had to feed them and also cut ice so they would be able to get to water. 

Had 8 deer in the yard last night. They didn't get to my trees so the soap is still working. 

12-11-13

It never got above 30 but the sun came out early and it didn't feel as cold. But at least it wasn't like Minnesota that hovered around the o degree mark all day. 

Worked on Christmas presents. Yes I am making them. This evening I went to Awana's. In fact I had the lesson. I talked on prayer. When can you pray. Where can you pray and what can you pray. I showed examples of david praying in the bible and how it pleased God. At least the kids did not throw tomatoes at me. 

12-10-13

Another cold day but at least the sun came out..even though the sun came out I went to the farm and cut ice so that the cows and horses would be able to drink water. 

I am just thankful that I have a house with a roof and can afford to heat it. There are so many people in the world that do not have a home or a roof or the ability to keep warm. Thank you God for allowing me to live in a country where we have the freedom to have have creature comforts

12-9-13

Very cold today. Spent most of the day haying the cows and cutting ice for the cows. The rest of the day I stayed close to the fireplace. 

It began to snow about 4. Looks like own inch is on the ground.   Nothing like they have in the north. And hopefully it will melt soon. The temperatures are supposed to get up to the 30's tomorrow. Whew

12-8-13

Leanna and brian spent the weekend. Leanna helped me put up the Christmas tree. Even have presents under the tree. 

Went to church this morning. Then leanna and brian left to go home. They wanted to get back to OKC before the roads got bad. They made it home with no problems. 

Made it to church thus evening.  

12-7-13

Remember Pearl Harbor day. Brian went hunting. Leanna and I got Christmas decorations down and started putting them up. 

We had lunch and a short nap. Then brian went hunting again. Leanna and I continued working on Christmas decorations. Whew had to rearrange the furniture and item that are on shelves for Christmas stuff. Had fun with leanna as we just talked about the various decorations and where they came from. Lots of positive memories. 

12-6-13

Cold day. Did not feel good. Rested most of the morning. 

Leanna and brian came up this afternoon. Her school let out because of bad weather. Once they got out of OKC the roads got better. Only a trace of snow here

This evening we went to see herb and Dorothy  then went to eat at Mj burgers. I am talking about a big time on the town. Now I better go to bed so I can have another big day. 

12-5-13

A cold day. I went to the farm and put out hay.  Then I put out hay at my brothers. 

Then I had lunch with a high school friend. It was good to spend time with him. 

Leanna called and said they were going to try to leave OKC tonight  then that had vehicle trouble. I think they are still trying to fix the vehicle. 

Well I must be getting old. I knew that I had a nominating and budget meeting tonight. Forgot it until the pastor called and asked where I was. Duh old age. Made it to the meeting a little late. Thanks pastor for reminding me about the meeting

Make sure you weather proof you water lines. It is going to get even colder

12-4-13

Spent the day with Dwight. We went to Oklahoma and picked up his tractor and brought it back to Altamont. Made it home in time to go to Awana

Not many children at Awana because if basketball games and the upcoming cold weather

It looks like we are in for several days that will not get above freezing. My plan is to stay close to the fireplace 

12-3-13

It was foggy again this morning. 

Went to the farm to visit lady and to check on the cows and make sure they have hay

Then I got invited to a birthday party. Philip wanted some coloring books some underwear and a rubber ball. So I got him some super hero underwear. I think he liked them. At least his brothers liked them

12-2-13

Spent the day in front of the fireplace. Wrote thank you notes and get well letters to some friends. 

Pretty laid back day. 

12-1-13

Wow it is December. Went to church in OKC. There was dense fog like we had in Pacifica California this morning. It made it difficult driving to church. But made it just fine

After church had lunch with david sarah leanna brian and Ralene 

Then I headed home. It was a good drive. No problems. 

Will be in Altamont this week. 

Hope all had a great thanksgiving and were able to return home safely