What to say about today??

There is so much that has happened in the past week and also in this particular day.

The week found us taking Grandma to St. Lukes Hospital where she had a two day stay to regulate her blood pressure. I don't think she is happy still with her health and I have heard that we may be in for more doctor visits this week.

Maleah came over Thursday night and we enjoyed her visit except for the fact that I was so tired that I basically used her as a shoulder to rest on.....I guess that is ok to do occasionally.

Saturday I enjoyed my bus visitation. I was able to meet several little boys between the ages of 10-7 at one neighborhood I visit in. The parents said they might be able to go next week so I am looking forward to having new ones on the bus.

I picked up Erica and took her with me on visitation in the afternoon and enjoyed our time of talking. She is a sweetheart and I hope to see big things from her.
She has been riding the bus for 4-5 years and is 13 now. She is very faithful and I believe she really wants to do something in her spiritual life though I remember well when she first started riding and I have watched her mature in both body and actions.

Bus 5 was the #1 bus again today with 36 regular riders and 1 first time visitor. The visitor came with a girl that was a first time visitor less than two months ago. She doesn't live in our area but possibly she could be encouraged to ride another bus.

We had a great time on the bus. I think I must have sung 50 songs. A couple of the girls were sitting on the front with me and I was challenging them to see if they knew all the songs I sang. Then I went to the back of the bus this time, which seemed to work out very well since the teens were back there. I love to hear them sing like they really mean it. Actually, I doubt that most of them know what they are singing. They just like to sing. But, I remember that as a child, I learned thousands of songs that I had no idea of the meaning but years later as I matured and thought them through, they were a real comfort to my heart.

When we got to church, everyone disbursed to their classes except Megan. She is 7 years old and has come several times. She comes to visit her father every other week and sometimes comes with Shawna when she is there. She had a "stomach ache" and was very whiny. She was afraid she was going to get sick. Apparently she had been sick with strep throat several weeks before and she was afraid she was going to be sick again. She had already explained to me that she didn't have time to eat any breakfast and that Shawna had given her a Jolly Rancher. I told her it was probably her tummy telling her that it didn't want to eat Jolly Ranchers for breakfast! I prayed with her and she agreed she would go to her class but before I could even get out of the hall the secretary in her class came and told me that she was not happy. So, I went and got Mike and let him know what was happening. We left for the 20 minute trip to take her home. All the way, I was talking to her and getting her to tell me about all her fears. I told her that she could certainly learn to say "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."

We were almost home when she informed me that her stomach was feeling better and she would like to go back to church. I asked her what she thought had helped and she said she guessed me telling her that Jesus heard everything and knew about it and loved her. So with that, I got off the highway, rejoined the opposite side of the highway to return to church, explaining that we could not do this again, even if her stomach hurt again.

She understood and went straight to her Junior church which was just assembling. I had missed choir practice so got my folder and lined up as if I had been at practice.

The song service was good. I always enjoy the instruments that the TCCA kids play with our song service. The choir special turned out well. The Himes Family sang a song Lisa wrote, "Is There Not A Cause?" It was very good. Bro. Himes preached a good sermon on Luke 15 which he entitled "The Prodigality of God". I had never heard that word but he explained that "prodigal' meant a person who spends and gives greatly. I don't think those were his words, but that was the essence of it. He preached a good sermon explaining how much God loves us.

We were excited to see Donna come forward. Mrs. P. told me about her a few weeks ago. Her husband grew up in our church but had gotten away from the Lord and for years had driven a truck. His wife was a good person but had never been a church goer. When we had our Veterans Day service and fed the Veterans, Mrs. P. invited them to the service. They liked it and have been coming ever since. She had asked that we pray for Donna to understand the Gospel and to receive Jesus. Praise the Lord, that prayer was answered today. She was baptized also. We also had two other gentlemen that accepted Jesus, but not only that......guess who else came through the door from Junior church to be presented as having accepted Jesus.......YOU GUESSED IT!!!!! Megan! Now just what if I had insisted that she learn her lesson and had taken her home even though she was feeling better. She told me on the bus that her stomach was still hurting ever so often but "Oh, Well!!!". She knows that she has Jesus with her all the time now and she was completely satisfied.

Chris and Ashley were also brought in from Junior Church to be presented to the church. I was able to talk to Chris about baptism. They had all watched Donna be baptized. He was a bit concerned that he takes a deep breath just as he goes under water. I reminded him that he could hold his nose. He was going to check with his mom.

Satan was at work mightily today in so many areas but (Praise the Lord!!) we put out a few fires!

Thank you Lord for allowing me to work for You!