A First

Today's high temperature was:  48 degrees

Rainy all day, until evening.

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What a miserable day, weather-wise.  A gentle rain all day, which is okay, but it would have been nicer if it had been warmer.  

I worked a couple of hours, on-line,  for my friend, but my major adventure today was to do something I have never done in my longish life.

At 4:00 this afternoon, I went to a movie all alone!  It was wonderful as I could sit way up in the back row, with no one behind me kicking the back of my seat, or coughing down the back of my neck AND I sat in the seat at the top of the steps, so I could stretch these long legs out and not be crowded by a seat in front of me.

The movie wasn't all that hot.  I saw, "God's Not Dead".  I liked the first part of the movie, because it was so like a philosophy class and professor I had in college.  My professor was an Atheist, as was the professor in the movie.  The class was on proving the existence or non-existence of God--as it was in this movie.  They were studying all the philosophers--just like we did.  Our class ended with a Blue Book Essay exam.  I figured I'd probably failed the class.  The young kids in the class were filling up that Blue Book with discourse on both sides of the argument and I (44 years old) simply wrote:  "There is no way to prove or disprove the existence of God.  A Theist and a Atheist believe as they do based on their own individual feelings and/or faith."  I got a B in the class.

My favorite line from the entire movie was when the college Freshman (a Christian boy) said to the Professor who was railing at God because he was mad at God, "Why are you so angry at something you say doesn't exist?"  Point well taken.

However, the rest of the movie was a bit sappy--there were four or five other story lines of other people going through the movie and I tended to get confused.  Two of the young women looked so much alike I couldn't remember who was who.  Of course, they all had their Come To Jesus moment.  Oh Yeah--it ended with a Christian Rock Group Concert--the usual 7 words repeated 11 times kind of music that I don't care for.  The young kids will like the movie and the people that go to the non-denominational Mega churches will love the movie.  I liked most of it, but wouldn't go see it again.  I'd give it a 5 on a scale of 1-10.  Not like "Heaven Is For Real" which I gave a 10+ and can't wait to be able to buy the DVD.

Hollywood apparently is putting out a lot of Christian movies this year.  I hope none are like "Noah", which they say was directed by an Atheist and actually put out to ridicule Jews and Christians.  As one reviewer said, "If you are expecting to see the story you know from the Bible, forget it.  This is far from the familiar.  The special effects are good, however."  Everyone I know who saw it said it was one of the worse movies they have ever seen.

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When I came out of the theater, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining brightly.  That was nice.

I pondered on the way home, why so many people get angry with God.  The Professor in the movie, who had been a child of faith, got angry at God and declared His non-existence, when his mother died when he was twelve.

I don't recall ever being angry at God.  I have often (and still do) wonder why things happen, but angry?  Instead, I always have felt a great sense of gratefulness that I was lucky enough to have the years I did, with my Grandma, Mother, Best Friend, Fred.  

Sad?  Yes.  But angry?  Why?  As far as I could see, God didn't "cause" any of their deaths.  It was either disease, accident, or not taking care of themselves.

The one thing we do possess, and is given to us by God, if Free Choice.  A point stressed in the movie.

Disappearing Wednesday--Planter Obsession--OCD

Today's temperature was: 54 degrees

Partly Cloudy and way too chilly

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I didn't forget to post on Wednesday--I just was so busy and then around 11:00 p.m., I fell into an obsession of what to plant in a new planter I have and what with the searching for images of annual flowers and all that---it was 1:00 a.m. before I even thought about doing to bed.

RECAP:
Wednesday 8:00 a.m.--phone call woke me up.  From gas company.  They have the incorrect billing all fixed.
9:30--Dar came over
1030--got it in my brain that I wanted to get a special glass jar over to Karen's BEFORE they arrived home from their L.A. California trip.  Spent the next two hours messaging back and forth with Madeleine.
Noon--decided I just HAD to get my hummingbird feeders up.  Rummaged in shed, found them, made sugar water, filled them, spilled sugary sticky water all over counter and kitchen floor.  Got them up.
1:00--Watched soap and ate lunch
2:00--Put on shirt to go to get hair cut--had a stain on the front, put on another shirt--was not warm enough, finally found a shirt.
2:10--got Pearl in the car and off we go to get hair cuts at 2:30--she had to stop at bank first.
2:25--made it to hair salon just in time
3:00--Maddie came in, got glass jar for her Mom out of my car and took off.
4:30--got home
5:00--Karen called--home safe and loves glass jar to put her 3 cups of sea glass she found at Malibu!!  She had received a text that Susanna had finished the Boston Marathon--Karen had been praying for her and looked down and there was a piece of purple sea glass--Susanna's favorite color is purple.  She also found Cobalt Blue, Ruby Red, yellow and the usual green, white and brown pieces.

I have combed every beach I could near for 30 years and have found a total of 5 pieces of sea or lake glass.  Karen found 3 cups in one comb?

7:00-phone range--I ignored it--trying to get my spaghetti made for supper--friend from Saginaw.
8:00--phone range again--friend from Saginaw--I ignore it because I wanted to watch Survivor.
9:00--called friend back--yak, yak, yak until 10:00
10:30--realize I have not gathered up or taken out garbage pail--did it.
11:00--came in to shut down computer and got in obsessed mood about the planter.
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Thursday--woke up at 8:00 on my own.  Hit snooze button.
8:20--doorbell rings.  WTH?  Dar wants to know if I want to go for a walk.  It's 39 degrees out--she hates the cold, but wants to know if I want to go for a walk?  I declined her offer.
====================

This is the Stack and Grow Planter I bought, on sale, last fall.

I have it set up in my living room and I have been

staring at it and deciding how and what I want to plant.

Here's my plan--so far, but I may change my mind, LOL.

TOP TIER:

Bunny Tails in the center

Dark Blue Primrose further out

 Hot pink and Light pink Moss roses on

outer edges and to hang over the edge

2ND TIER:

Bright Pink Impatiens
2 in each section 

Dark Blue Lobelia along front edge

2 in each section

3RD TIER:
Coleus
1 in each section

Coleus

1 in each section

                                                                                                          Impatiens

In center of section along front edge

BOTTOM LAYER:

Chartreuse Sedum

I just love Hot Pink, Dark Blue and Chartreuse together.  I have plotted this all out, typed it up, printed out a "purchase" list and ready to go to the garden store across the road--in another 3+ weeks probably.

I have to have it all written down or I swear...I would forget by then.  

I really wanted to make this, but....this would cost at least $75.00.  You cannot imagine how much plain old succulents cost nowadays.  But...isn't it adorable?

Spring Is Hiding For A Bit

Today's high temperature was:  40 degrees

Sunny all day, but a cold wind

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One last picture of the Triumphal Two after the Marathon.

The only picture anyone would have of me after a ONE mile race would be of the EMT's taking me away on a gurney.  Ah--too be so young and strong as these two.

Darlene called, I told her she had to go see the Heaven is for Real movie and last night she did.  She felt renewed after seeing it.  I am glad because she has been losing her faith lately.

Susan and Chuck stopped in today, on their way from JoAnn's in Brighton, going up to Lowe's in Howell.  They brought me a 6" Spicy Italian Subway--which I enjoyed since I have used up my Subway gift card.

I made a half recipe of spaghetti sauce--let it simmer in the Crock Pot, instead of pot on the stove.  I had to make some because....I had a craving for spaghetti, so I bought some spaghetti sauce in the store and...EYUCK!!!  The brand I always used to buy and thought was tasty, now, after eating my homemade sauce for the last few years, tastes like cow's tail.  BLECH!!

Pearl's daughter said that Pearl was telling her that she and I don't do too much together anymore.  "Judy used to come to visit every other day.  Now, sometimes I don't see her for a week at a time."

Truth be told, I don't feel comfortable going to her house to chat when Merle is there.  Poor Merle, trying to watch TV and she and I sitting in the same room yakking away.  But----

So yesterday, I went up to their place and asked Pearl if she wanted to go on an adventure next Tuesday.  She quickly said, "Yeah!"

I am going to take her on a road trip--sorta.  Up the back way to my home town and out to the cemetery and then over to the farms, stop at Susan's for a potty break and then come home a different way.  It should be fun.  We did this a couple of years ago, but she directed and I drove around as she showed me all the houses she had lived in and where she grew up, so...now it's my turn.

I called to get a hair appointment, got one for tomorrow and then thought---hm-mm.  I called Pearl and asked if she needed a hair cut and when she said, "Yes, I was going to try and go tomorrow," I told her I was going and she could ride into town with me.  She called and got an appointment right after mine. :-)

Now that Merle is back working at the golf course, I think she gets lonely.  I am going to have to be a better friend.  I may even ask if I can go along with them and their daughter to church on Saturday evening.  Their daughter goes to the 2/42 church--the same one Jen is scoping out.  Hee Hee.  Of course, with 1,600 people attending, I doubt if I would see Jen and if I did--what a surprise, as she has no clue that I know she goes there occasionally.  Merle and Pearl like to sit in the balcony--I can look down on the main floor congregation and see if Jen is there.  Besides, I want to check the place out.

Let's see if tomorrow is a nicer day weather-wise?  I don't really care--I'm going to get my hair cut!!!

Later--Jude

YAY!!! Boston Strong!

Today's high temperature was: 80 degrees !!!

Sunny all day

Tomorrow's high predicted at: 54 degrees :-(

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My grand daughter (Karen's second child) Susanna and her hubby ran in and finished the Boston Marathon in really good times.  A sub-three hour time.  That's 26.4 miles--running.  It would take me at least 10 days to WALK that far.  Sometimes, I don't feel like I can drive that far, LOL.

I told them two years ago that I had read, all that running isn't really good for your body/heart.  They, of course, listened and said they'd read up on it and check with their doctor...and of course, went right on running long distances.

The day after the Marathon last year, they decided to train and see if they could qualify for the race.  Sure enough, but July, they had good enough times and could run 26 miles.  Susanna works for New Balance Shoe in Portland, Oregon.  Their head office is in Boston, so she travels to Boston at least four times a year.  Last year, she was there the week after the bombing and took her morning run down Boylston Street--weeping all the day.

Today, she wasn't weeping--well, maybe after it was finished.  She was Cross Country runner in high school, good enough to get a track scholarship at Grand Valley State here in Michigan.  That's where she met Derek, who was also in cross country.  They have been running together ever since.

Here they are--in the center of the heart.

...and their times

This is what she posted yesterday:
"How appropriate for Easter Sunday to be the day before Marathon Monday. The most important day for believers, today is about HOPE and LIFE after death. Tomorrow is an incredibly important day for Boston and the running community, where HOPE and REBIRTH will be flowing as we take back the streets of Boston. I am so, so grateful to take part in both of these life-filled events"

Maybe now they will settle down and give me a great grand baby?  I doubt it!
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I woke up at 5:00 this morning.  I thought I heard a loud bang--I know, both cats jumped straight up in the air, landed on the bed and flew off--I thought they were scared.  I got out of bed to see what had fallen or if the storm door had smashed up against the porch.  I could see nothing out of place.  I also could not get back to sleep.

I climbed back in bed at 7:00 and woke up at 10:00.  On pondering back, I think perhaps I may have had a night terror and screamed or yelled in my sleep and woke us all up.  I'd like to get a nanny cam that would turn on and take a video only when I do this sort of thing.  Maybe that would help me figure out why?

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I went into Brighton today and got some groceries at Meijer's and three salads from the Rich People's Store.  I used my Bridge Card at Meijers--as it was good today--$55.00.  Boy, fifty-five bucks sure doesn't go very far does it.  Oh well--it does help and I am ever grateful.

Let's see what tomorrow might bring.

Later--Jude

A Day Of Hope

Today's high temperature was:  72 degrees

Sunny all day

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I did not go to church today.  I haven't gone to church on Easter Sunday for three years.  Why?  I don't know.  Too many people there?  I don't know--I got to every service during Holy Week, except the most important one--Easter Sunday.

Susan called me--she hadn't gone either, which is very strange for her.  She had found some pictures of mother and said, "Boy, you sure do--er--did look like her."

Many people have told me that over the years and I never could see it.  I think you need two pictures at the same age and...she was 23 years older than me, so I couldn't see it, but...I was scanning and saving some pictures and I noticed one when I was 24 and I sure did look like her when she was 23.  So I put the two together.

Yeppers--I guess we did

Of course, I have no comparison now--she never lived beyond 53 years of age so I have no idea what she would have looked like at my age--wish I did.

====================

Pammie called while I was on the phone with Susan.  

"Momma, you will be so proud of me...in fact, I'm really proud of myself!"

"What did you do now?  Climb up on the roof of the barn to straighten a lightning rod?"

"Nope--I made a skirt!"

"I didn't know you knew how to sew."

"A few  years ago, Karen taught me how to sew a real simple skirt--it just has elastic for the waistband.  Yesterday, I went to church with Jen and I felt bad because the skirt I wore is so old, so...on the way home, I stopped at Wal-Mart, got some fabric and this morning--I made a skirt.  I am putting in the hem now and I have to say, it's really pretty.  I'm also making a half slip to go under it.  I see all these women wearing skirts with no slip and you can see right through them!"

"WOW--Pammie!  That is so cool!  You are right about the needed half slip.  I agree.   I didn't know they had services at Jen's church yesterday."

<and here is where the conversation got interesting and has filled me with hope!>

"Oh--we didn't go to Jen's church.  They don't go there much anymore."

"Oh...why?"

"They don't like the minister anymore.  They are very disappointed in the way he is acting."

"The same minister who told her that 'honor your mother' didn't really matter in my case?"

"Yup."

"The same minister that Andrew told me, while they were at the MSU/UofM football game party, was down in the basement with the kids and was swearing and throwing things because UofM was losing?"

"Yup."

"Hm-mm. Jen and Eric were personal friends with him."

"Well, Eric never has really liked him.  He told Jen 10 years ago, he thought the guy was not a very good minister."

"Well, I think others also told her that, didn't they?"

"Yup.  A lot of people did."

"So, where did you go yesterday."

"We went to that new church just up the road from you.  The 2/42 church."

"Wow--that's a big church."

"Yes and I was amazed at how many young families go there and teenagers--loving it and their parents don't have to drag them there."

"Yes.  They have had a huge climb in attendance just in the last year, since they built there.  I know a lot of Maddie's friends go there.  It's kind of a church where people that have become disenchanted with their church and all the rules and regulations their religion calls for.  This church just preaches and teaches from the Bible.  God's laws, not man's."

"We got in the car and Jen said, 'I got more out of that sermon than I have any sermon in the last ten years!'

"Hm-mm.  Maybe some day they will have a teaching on forgiveness or the Ten Commandments and Jen will become more open to renewing her relationship with me."

"Ya know, Momma?  I was thinking the same thing.  I know you pray everyday that God will bring about a reconciliation between you and Jen.  This just might be God working for that to happen."

<tears>

"Maybe Pammie.  I can only hope."

======================

Now--I don't care for that 2/42 church because it is one of those mega churches with the praise rock and roll music, and I am a traditionalist, but............if it helps my daughter get off her high horse and become less judgmental, more forgiving and loving (like she was taught!), then................

I wonder what Jen is going to do about the kids school--at her church.  Andrew is ready to go into Middle School and will be going to public school.  Maybe she will pull the other two out and send them to public school too?  I know Alex is bored with his class work and probably Elise wouldn't mind either--especially if Jen puts it to them about how much more fun they will have or however she does it.

I'd sure like to know what happened.  For the last ten years, all I have heard is how wonderful the people in her church are.  All along I have thought they were quite snooty.  I have spoken to the minister every time I've gone there and felt very cold.  He just sort of waved me off or looked right through me.  Hm-mm--I wonder what happened. 

<I know it's bad, but I have smiled all day about this.>

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I went out to supper tonight with Merle, Pearl and their daughter Margie (I love Margie!)  Pearl complained about EVERYTHING.  She ragged on the waitress.  She complained about the food.  She complained about the price.  "Two dollars for two biscuits?  That's terrible!" (I had ordered the biscuits, so why did she care?)

I told her, "It's a Holy day.  Be nice and smile."

She glared at me, LOL.  

We had a good time though and it was nice, but with my ET (essential tremor) making my right hand shake, it is difficult to eat out.  I always get a bit nervous and that makes the tremor worse.  Oh yes--she commented on that too.  

"I'm afraid to sit across from you.  You're going to flick food on my clean shirt or something,"

She said this as she dribbled gravy onto her shirt front.

I turned to Margie, "Do you know where I can get a pattern to make your Mom an adult sized bib?  Friday at the movie--she got popcorn butter grease all over her new shirt!"

Margie said, "We could make many and put holiday pictures on them.  Then when we take her out for a holiday lunch--she can take that bib. Like tonight--she could wear a pink bib with an Easter bunny and basket and eggs motif"

Merle said, "Save money.  Put Halloween on one side and Christmas on the other."

We even got Pearl too laughing.

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Monday, I have a whole lot of running around to do.  It is suppose to be warm, but rainy.  I don't care.  I won't melt.  

Later--Jude

Easter time is filled with miracles.  Maybe...just maybe.

What A Joyous Day!!!

Christianity didn’t start at Christmas—although that was a miracle event.

Easter is the start.  If Jesus hadn’t walked out of that grave alive, and later ascended into Heaven alive, we would have nothing.  

What a true miracle that was.  The happiness it can bring when we believe in His word, that when we leave this life, we will join Him in Heaven where there is no more pain, unhappiness, illness or death ever again.  The joy of being with our loved ones, who are there.

Happy Easter, everyone.  

New life is appearing all around us here in the springtime, and awaits us when our own personal winter comes. 

He is Risen!  He is alive.

Review of Movie

Today's high temperature was:  65 degrees

Cloudy and spotty sprinkles

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Pearl and I went to the 10:30 showing of "Heaven Is For Real" this morning.  

On the short ride in, Pearl made a comment, "Is this movie going to make us cry?"

"I don't think so," I said.

"I find the older I get, the less I cry," she replied.

"That's odd isn't it?  Usually the older a person gets, the more more emotional they get, the more they cry.  Especially if they have medical problems.  I know people that have had a stroke, cry quite a bit.  There's a name for it, but I can't remember."

"Well--I don't expect to cry a bit," she said.

"I have my hanky, just in case," I said.

During the last of the movie, I see her dabbing her eyes.  I just sat and smiled through the whole thing.  Isn't it strange that watching the same movie, two people, much alike in their beliefs, would get different reactions.

I had read the book a few weeks after Fred died and it made me very happy.  I felt the same way with this movie.  It follows the book exactly.  The little boy who plays the main part, acts so natural--like someone is following him around with a video camera and just shooting his actions and words.  He doesn't "act" like an actor.

It is based on a real life happening.  There is absolutely no way the little boy could have known the things he told his parents about, unless, he had actually been in Heaven.  I found it humorous that his father, a minister and his mother didn't believe him at first.  Even the psychiatrist that explained all the scientific reasons why the boy had these "hallucinations", at the end of the movie believed him.  There can be no other explanation.

What is the neatest thing is the actress, Margo Martindale, when first asked to be in the movie, didn't believe in the whole story at all--didn't really believe in Heaven being real--just a "maybe" in our lives.  After she read the book and met with the family, she is now a woman of true faith.  THAT is what I find the most amazing.

If you are not a person who believes in that sort of thing--this movie might give you a reason to think--perhaps.  If you are a person of faith--this movie just reinforces your beliefs.

It is a beautiful movie and I felt very peaceful and happy while I was watching it and---for the rest of today.

===========================

I have had a fear of death--I think most of us do.  For some reason, and I cannot tell you why, when Fred died, I lost that fear.  It was as if I couldn't quit smiling all the time.  People thought I was in shock or acted rather weird, but for some reason, I just felt so happy that he was in Heaven and never having to have pain or struggles anymore.  I still feel that same way and look forward to that day.  I so want to see my Mother--I know for sure she is there.  

I still have a fear of dying.  That is much different.  The process of dying.  The pain.  The look on my family's faces when they realize I am dying.  We all want to go in our sleep--most of us won't.  Or, like Bethie's son--just take a breath and pass.  I might just change my mind about Hospice and how they over medicate dying people, sending them into a sort of coma state with the Morphine.  Perhaps that is the way to go?

I love the way Fred died.  Sitting up, laughing, talking, kissing me, saying, I love you, with a smile on his face and gone in a few minutes.  He wasn't scared a bit.  He was just going to have a minor procedure and.....I often wonder what his reaction was.  

"WOW!  How did I get here?  This is beautiful!"