Good Sunday morning, Everyfriend.  There's blueberry muffins to go with your coffee or tea.  Have a blessed Sunday.





Medication

A distraught patient phoned her doctor's office. "Is it true," the woman wanted to know, "that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the woman continued, "I wonder then, just how serious is my condition. This prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'."





Reconcile With One Another
(By Steve Troxel)


Malachi served as a prophet to Israel about four hundred years before the birth of Jesus. He brought a message from God which reminded the people of His love, and rebuked them for their disrespectful worship. But through Malachi, God ended the Old Testament with a prophesy about future restoration.

Malachi 4:5-6
"I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

Just over four hundred years later, John the Baptist, "the Elijah who was to come" (Matthew 11:14), began to preach a message of repentance. The purpose of John's ministry was to prepare hearts for the coming of Jesus; "Prepare the way for the Lord" (Matthew 3:3). But according to Malachi, John would also cause the hearts of fathers and children to turn toward one another.

When the spiritual fellowship between man and God was broken, a basic void was formed in man's heart which led to a breakdown in his earthly relationships. The moment we lost the ability to walk in perfect harmony with God, we also became filled with self-importance and pride, and lost the ability to truly love one another; "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have {true} fellowship with one another" (1 John 1:7). Walking close to God, through faith in Jesus, allows us to walk close with others; "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

God created us to be in fellowship with other people - even imperfect, hard to love people. Our quiet and peaceful times of study and prayer are essential for our Christian walk, but some of God's most important truths can [also] be learned as we stumble through difficult situations with others...[where] we learn the difficulty of true grace and forgiveness... and our own deep sin (like pride, jealousy, and anger) [can] be revealed.

Many relationships are filled with past pain - particularly the relationships between husband and wife, and parent and child - but God's Word still stands as truth. He has provided the path to restoration; a path which begins with repentance, requires the cleansing of sinful pride, and leads to true love and forgiveness.

Who do we need to reconcile with today? Full restoration requires the cooperation of both parties; but as a child of God, we can now cross the desert and begin to mend what is broken. Jesus died as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins in order that we may be reconciled with our Heavenly Father. He crossed ALL the way and completely mended our shattered heart! Let's walk in the light of His love and take the necessary steps to cross over and humbly reconcile with one another.



Excuses are the cradle that Satan rocks men off to sleep in.

--Author Unknown

good Morning Bis and all that follows -1º here 10º predicted for the high today.
I posted other before you got up Bis If you want to go back and look Have a great day. these sleepless nights suck

Lloyd

Good morning Everyfriend!  It's raining here today.  the temp is up to 35º with a predicted high of 40 and the rain has already started.  Not a pretty day for sure but better than snow or ice. 

I had a restless night also due to an extremely dry mouth.  I was up at least 4 times to get a drink of water.  My mouth felt like I'd been sucking on a tennis ball all night.  I must be breathing through my mouth.  When I'm upright, my head doesn't feel all that clogged and I do feel a lot better.  In fact, I'm going to go to church this morning. 

I hope you all have a lovely day full of whatever you wish.

we have a heat wave on the way here now up to -2º @ 4:53 AM still calling for 10º for high today.

Have a great day JaneS get a pepermint morsel and suck on it at least it will taste good.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone..

Looks like I shall have a date with the snow blower this morning. Yesterday I did the driveway plus trails in the back yard for the dogs. Also took a snow rake to the roof and brought down some snow....still snowing out there now too..
I made pastry yesterday so will get that into pies/tarts today. Put some chocolate chip cookies in the hidey hole too.

One load of laundry to fold and then I can play with the binding on dh's quilt... and that will be it for me today.

Jane, glad your feeling better. Do you have a humidifier you can put in your bedroom?

Phyliss that is what the trees look like here......so BEAUTIFUL!!!

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Lloyd, good morning

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning, Lloyd.  I read your other posts before I opened this new Soda Shoppe.  Keep warm in that frigid weather.

Janie--Good morning.  Sorry your sleep was interrupted by a dry mouth.  Good to read you feel well enough to go to church.

Good morning, Amy.  Oh my--dancing with that plow is no fun.  I will check the "hidey hole".  Thank You.

Good Morning AMY
we are on a role to a heat wave here currently -3º calling for 10º today
Have a great day.

Lloyd

LLOYD HAMMOND....
...so will you be doing some sun bathing today?......
............................................
Good Sunday morning Everyfriends....
...we have something Christmassy on later this evening, starts 5pm....Phyl our site manager slipped a note through all letterboxes asking us to tick whether we will be coming along, if he can get enough ticks it will go ahead, he has, and it will....It is Carol Singing, mince pies and mulled wine...with our opposite neighbour doing his entertainment, he is in the entertainment business of singing, although no one famous.... Our Carol Singing is to take place on site, at the bottom of our parkhome site, where as we turn right, then half circle to the left, there is a long corrugated open shed, no doors, just a roof, but large enough to hold several people...I will of course go down in Rs car, his suggestion, I know in the pitch darkness I wouldn't be able to walk it, even though such a short distance...I am debating on whether to take my rollator, if just for sitting as I dont think hanging onto Rs arm for the whole time would be feasible, especially if one of us wants to venture off to go speak to someone, although R is not a communicator, but I am...of course he will only be going for the foodstuff and drink, if there is anything else available apart from mince pies, as he doesn't eat mince pies, but I do...I have had two this morning already, I found the unopened packet yesterday... ...next step is to get this extra unwanted weight off in the new year...

Good morning Vanilla-Jackie.  Your Christmas event sounds like a good way to begin Christmas week.  Enjoy the festivities.

Hi everyone on a beautiful 65 degree and so far sunny morning here in South Carolina.  We are to get up to 71 degrees around noon time. It was a very nice day here yesterday.  I watched my Alma Mater, Northwest Missouri State University win the Division II National Championship in football yesterday afternoon.  The game was being played in Kansas City, Kansas and it was extremely cold and the field was so covered with snow you couldn't even see the lines on the field. 

I did have a productive day yesterday as got the Christmas wrapping done and took one box to the Post Office.  There were only about 8 people ahead of me and it didn't take more than 8-10 minutes before I was waited on as there were three clerks working.  I also got my Christmas Letter prepared and emailed.  Yesterday afternoon I made more sausage muffins for Pat and also made the peanut clusters that are so easy and so good.  Pat made them last year and they are very good although very sweet.  I plan on sharing some of them with my neighbors as the recipe makes about 4 1/2 pounds of candy. 

I plan on a quiet day this afternoon.  I will go to Sunday School and Church but Pat will not be going as the gout isn't any better and her foot is swelling.  She plans on calling the doctor's office tomorrow.  I will bring home something for lunch then rest and watch football this afternoon.  One of the game this afternoon will be played in Chicago and I read that they expect it to be the coldest conditions in which a pro football game has ever been played. 

Patricia, that eased my mind as wasn't sure about you ladies and that chocolates in the gift bags. 

Joan, you sound like Pat in not liking to have to prepare a dish for a potluck. 

Shirley, thanks for the info on the gout medicine.  Another of our posters here emailed me yesterday about the same drug that had been successful in keeping the gout at bay.  Pat did read yesterday that black cherry juice concentrate is sometimes used for gout. 

Jenny, it would be hard for your DIL to turn down a BIG job offer.  It will give you a new place to visit and you won't have to deal with the O'Hare airport just Logan airport. 

JaneS, I am the one who mentioned Amazon Customer Service. I did a quick Google search on the number to call for Amazon Customer Service.  This link may be helpful for you as I see different customer service numbers:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=number%20to%20call%20for%20amazon%20com%20customer%20service

I am going to have to sign off for today.  I have read all of the postings and just hope all of you in the very frigid weather can stay in and stay warm today.   

Good Morning,

6 degrees on my patio this morning with a wind chill below zero.  It seems we had a 3.7 earthquake during the night.  What's next,  a tsunami?

I hate to miss the beautiful cantata at church this morning but I'm not sticking my nose out the door in this temperature - even if the sun is shining.

Janie,  Ricola Lemon-Herb lozenges help my dry mouth.  They aren't as sweet as candy but don't taste like cough drops.  They also come in sugar-free.

Yesterday, I finished dipping the MW candy balls.  There's some in the hidey-hole.  Help yourself.

Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere an Enjoyable Day.

Chilly again this morning after yesterdays snow, but now as bad as a couple of days ago,

Janie, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with Amazon, but I'm glad to see I'm not alone in being disgusted with them.  I've had only one experience with Amazon, using a "free Prime trial" and I've never had such a hard time getting something straightened out.  I think (hope) everything is settled this week, after two months of exchanges by email and phone,  That was my first and my very last attempt at purchasing anything from them.

Thanks for the suggestions about something to suck on but I don't think I want to go to sleep with something in my mouth.  I'd be afraid of choking.  It isn't dry during the day for the most part but I must be breathing through my mouth at night. 

JeanneLee, I'm afraid I'm giving up on Amazon, too.  And I'm going to tell them that.

Now I need to make a quick trip to WM.  My little ceramic tree has no lights.  (The bulb burned out) and I'm out of 1/2 and 1/2 for my coffee.  Stay warm everyone...except you, Larry..you better chill a bit!

Jane,  oh no - you definitely don't want to go to sleep with something in your mouth but, if you wake up at any point with a dry mouth - even a few minutes of the lemon-herb drop will help.
Don't mean to be doing commercials here - but Biotene has a mouth spray that helps.  You spray a few drops on your tongue and it works with your saliva to relieve the dry mouth.

Good morning, Larry.  They say we're to get to the high 80s today--highest ever recorded for this date. 

Callie--Good morning.  The best place for you is right in your cozy house.  I'll go check the hidey hole.  Thanks.

Jeanne Lee--Good morning.  Seems I am hearing about several having problems with Amazon.  I've been ordering from them for many years and nary a problem.  Think they are getting too big?

Janie--Make a quick trip and then get back home where it's warm.[/color

sun is shining bright here,but temp is not good. its brain is messed up it is going wrong way still. down to -5º now.hope the sun soon changes its miend. I carried a bathroom space heeter out and set it up close on side of tractor. hope it works. even wd40 has not worked I spraied it in thr open end of cable.Larry I wish you could send even part of your 70+ºup here.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone, 55° here this morning and raining and windy again. We did lose power last night about 30 minutes. Was answering emails and the TV was on and suddenly everything was black.  Sure glad I had a flashlight in reach. Lights in the hallway were on but the outside lights were off. Eerie feeling. First time since I have been here that the power went off like that. I finally got my Christmas cards done. Even brought down to the lobby to bring cards for those living here.  Found several for me there.  I have never been so late with them. Did go back to bed yesterday morning and woke near noon time. Last night I slept great. I really have been staying in here lately. When I went downstairs yesterday I saw a few others around and found out the lady who first welcomed me here had died last Sunday. I knew shw was in a nursing home  but did not know she was that ill. I really felt bad about that. She was a very helpful lady and if anyone needed a ride anyplace she would offer to take them.

SHIRLEY  Like your cats, I do not get enough exercise and might feel better if I did. I would love to use the machines in the exercise room but they are all to big. I got on the bicycle one once and could not s reach the pedals or the handle bars. I still think the one who designed this building was a tall man. There are 2 ladies and 4 men tall enough to use the machines. Shorties like us are the majority here. Breathing in the air as cold as it was here the other day is not good for anyone. I used ice pellets to melt the ice, no sodium in it and it works better than the salt. The maintenance man here uses it too. Does not kill the grass either.

LLOYD  there is always email keeping in touch with those on the other sides of the ponds. Times do not matter much with email.

JOY  congratulations on the new great granddaughter and wonderful that she has your name for her middle one.

LARRY  still amazing that tractor operator could sew anything while being behind the wheel.

I do not like pot luck meals either. If I am going out to eat I want to be served with the food I picked out and do not want to cook anything. One reason I only went down to the big kitchen for a potluck supper. I could not bring much for the meals but I could wash dishes. The lady who is the “boss” of that kitchen will sit there and tell everyone else what to do while all she did was give orders. I resent anyone telling me what to do or what to cook.

JOAN  we are not allowed to use ladders here and if a ceiling light goes out we have to get maintenance to change them.

JENNY  at least the weather in Boston will be a big change from what your son and DIL are used to.

JANE  my oldest son and his wife were married 10 years before she became pregnant. He always wanted a child and was good with little ones. She suggested adopting but he wanted one of his own. When my grandson was about 5 they did adopt a boy. They did not want their sone being an only child. The one they adopted -they were told he had medical problems and asked if they would accept him- they said if he was their own and had medical problems they would accept him. He has CP and is very smart but his body is not that great. He is a wonderful man these days.

PHYLLIS  love your graphic for this week. Reminds me of the first time I was on a snowmobile.

JOAN   will love a blueberry muffin this morning. Chuckles-that would have anyone being worried.  Food for Thought should have many thinking. Thank you for today's goodies.

LLOYD  in the 50's here raining and windy.

AMY  sorry you have to play in the snow again.

JACKIE  take your rollator with you.  You will be better sitting on it that standing during the Carol singing. You bought the rollator to help you so use it all the time. You can try sending that unwanted weight to me, I sure can use it.

JANE  have you  tried those breathe right strips? They worked for me when I had a head cold and allowed me to breathe better.

CALLIE  I tried Biotene for a dry mouth and it made it worse. My daughter had the same problem with it.

Gloria,  Friends have said the same thing about Biotene toothpaste and mouth wash.  These drops seem to work for me - but they don't always last through the night. 

Lloyd--It's too cold to be working outside.

Good morning, Gloria.  Smart on the part of your place not to allow ladders.  I have one--it's for others to use, as needed.  I always have a dry mouth.  My doctor told me it's from my medications.

I have a dry mouth sometimes, too but I attribute it to the eye drops I use for glaucoma.  Last night was different.  It actually woke me up it was so dry and it felt like I still had the tennis ball in my mouth. 

I made my quick trip to WM and I got the cough drops Callie recommended and my 1/2 and 1/2 and some cream cheese.  I also got a replacement for the order that Amazon cancelled and a light bulb for my little ceramic tree.  Now it has lights!  And now I'm in the house to stay.  I'm determined to finish the wrapping and the cleaning today so I can enjoy tomorrow.  I sent Kiran a text asking her if she'd like to have supper at McDonalds and go shopping for a birthday present tomorrow.  I haven't had an answer yet but I'm pretty sure it will be a yes!

Good morning, checking in from the Interior. We are having a very snowy morning here and a weather alert today for "severe weather" with two inches of snow expected today! I know those of you in other states are shaking your heads and groaning at that news! 

Jane, we could certainly do a Grinch proud, couldn't we? And I would bring a healthy appreciation for all those wonderful treats! I envy you for Kiran and the relationship you have with her. None of the nieces and nephews in the family have married or become parents, but my 24-year-old niece has just become engaged. Evidently, her fiance is 6'5 " and she isn't even 5' so I have begged my sister for a photo!


I have had dry mouth at times just on one side, so I must have been snoring? My ex used to say I snuffled at times.

We have outages here at times, but the hallways stay lit and the hallways inside of these apartments come on as well. They have emergency power in certain areas for those bedridden or needing oxygen as well. We do have high ceilings, and maintenance is to do any bulb changes.

I have heard folks say no animals on the furniture or none in the house. I have also heard others expound on the biblical theme that animals were put here to work for humankind and not as pets. One woman told me that animals were unsanitary. I noted she also was childless.

For myself, I take great joy in having cats and especially rescues. I know my parents did with dogs and cats and my sisters do as well with dogs and horses. In these apartments, living independently as we do, many have a cat or a dog or a bird.

They found some years back that hospitals and nursing homes cut further illness and depression rates by either having in house pets or coordinated animal visits. It is another of those "whatever floats your boat," and is right for you.

I use Amazon a lot and have had any issues quickly dealt with, but I believe that problems may be due to regional centers and outside contractors, as I know others have had complaints. I dealt with a company once who was well known for coffee sent monthly. They repeatedly assured me my account was canceled and regularly recharged for the following month. That took too much time and effort, and I have never dealt with them again.

Joy, what a great gift to have her middle name for you! It is an honor and a loving sign that your family love and effort is recognized and passed down.

Jackie take your rollator and enjoy your caroling; we have some expected next week; they roam the halls singing, and it is always appreciated.

Gloria, here the kitchens and any cleanup are commandeered by members of the hospitality committee. This building and others company owned are all run by member boards and committees outside of management and security, and maintenance.

I hope everyone everywhere stays warm, dry and comfortable and those sick rest and get better.

Farrah is again running about chasing down those imaginary enemies. I think we've been overrun, but she is putting up a valiant defense!

Have a great day!

Hello world, checking in from the studio. I had an interesting experience yesterday while shopping at the mall where I used to do my Santa gig. I was walking past the line where they were waiting to see the new Santa and a lady called to me and asked why I wasn't there because it was me they came to see. I explained the situation and somebody came over asked me to refrain from telling people that I was Santa at another mall. That was quite a surprise. Anyway, I proceeded to the grocery store for my shopping and while doing so the lady with whom I had been speaking earlier had come looking for me with her daughter and asked if her daughter could have her picture taken with me; it didn't matter that I wasn't in costume. So there we were, Santa out of costume having his picture taken with a lovely little girl who rewarded me with a hug.

That's so neat, Don!  You're Santa wherever you go! 

Jane her mum told me they were coming to visit me at the mall tomorrow and she will give me a copy of the picture

Janie--Good for you finishing things so you can go shopping with Kiran for a birthday gift.  When is her birthday?

Angelface--Cats, dogs, birds, etc.--"whatever floats your boat".

Radioman--That certainly was an interesting experience you had yesterday.

Gloria and Patricia,

Yes, I feel quite honored to have this sweet little girl share my name.  It was quite a surprise when my grand daughter told me., She is my only grand daughter, having 2 older brothers.  She lived with me for several years when she was younger and has always been special,.  Unfortunately, I don't get to see her very often.  She did live in South Carolina, but recently move to Connecticut, to be closer to her brother, so she is quite a bit closer now.  Hopefully, when there is no more chance of snow,  My son, (her dad) and I will be able to go visit them.

Thank you for your nice comment.

Joy

I did take my rollator but I didn't need to sit on it, just hold onto it for steadiness but, what it did come in extra use for, was to stand my paper plate with mince pie and my glass of hot mulled wine on the seat, I knew it was worth taking it along...

Our neighbour entertainers were very good, not only did we sing Carols but some Christmasy singalongs and the duo also sung some Elvis and other songs that we recognise, whilst some swaying and dancing was taking place, with me moving with the sway whilst holding onto to my walker....

For the first time in yonks I was out in my winter black long coat and my white fur hat....

Joanie, Kiran's birthday is today.  I think it's just a week after Finlay's isn't it?  I thought I remembered that.

It isn't in the condo by-laws, but many of us have indoor cats.  One woman has two dogs that she says are "service dogs".  I have no idea why she needs two.  In the summer, we hear them barking.  The Association tried to make her get rid of them but I think she got a lawyer to convince the Board they were necessary.  There's one in every crowd, isn't there?

We had a dog when I was young.  Actually, she was Norm's dog, but she was the "family" dog and was a Heinz variety.  We had her for about 10 years but by that time my mother had died and Dad said no more dogs until he retired.  By the time he retired, he and I were taking trips and having an animal was too much trouble, so we did not have another dog.  I have a cat because Annie can't have a cat where she lives; her landlord is very allergic to cat hair!

Don, that was an interesting experience at the mall yesterday and a great tribute to you.  I hope the kids keep you busy at your new mall.

Mary Ann