This and that...

Between scrap booking and Bible study I've been busy. Throw in a few shopping trips for Nana and my time is gone! I'm not complaining, it's just I can't believe it's Friday already. Now I'm trying to get ready for friends who are coming over tomorrow. We are going to the zoo to see the new Elephant Encounter. The man who who did the thatched roofs did it by hand. He's from Ireland ( I think) and learned the ancient art when he was a wee lad! Afterward, we will come back here and grill steaks. It should be in the upper 70's. It will be a wonderful day compared to what is coming on Sunday, weather wise. If you think about it tomorrow, even tonight, would you pray for our friends hearts to be soft and pliable to the Holy Spirit? They are a dear, dear couple who mean the world to us.

Other news, is that we have received word that another dear friend who has a son just three years older than James has been wounded in Afghanistan. His first tour of duty was in Iraq, then he was restationed back in Italy and now he has been in Afghanistan since February. He and his squad leader had a grenade thrown at them from a Taliban and the squad leader was killed, Nate was wounded. Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they decide what is best for his hand. He may be sent to Germany and if he is then his parents will fly over to see him.

I am eagerly waiting to hear how James' first Review Flight went today. We failed to ask him if he was flying early or late. My prayers for him have been that he will not grow weary this last week of studying. Our desire is for him to finish well. There is so much coming down the pike right now and I know that he sees the end in sight. I keep thinking of the verse in Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. " James is surrounded by a "great crowd of witnesses" who have been praying faithfully for him the past year. May he throw off any hindrances so that he may study and show himself approved as he gets in that left seat and takes off!

After tomorrow I will have to bring in my flowers that are on my patio. It will be time to prepare for the colder temps. It has been such a reprieve to not have to water the plants every day! I was so tired of doing that! After my second ladies Bible study I threw away my hanging plant on the front porch. I was so sick of taking care of it. Isn't that horrible? But, with the heat from the west, which seems to triple because of the concrete and brick, the hot summer takes a toll on whatever I hang there. My geraniums are doing wonderful especially now that the weather is cooler so I may do something with them in a hanging basket next summer. They are certainly hardy enough to take the full sun.

I'm studying Ecclesiastes and it has been interesting to read how his point of view on how everything is pointless. He talks about the wind blowing, round and round, ever on its course and how the streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full....and, of course, how pointless life is. I pondered that today as I ran errands and did my chores. We do repeat so much of our life, over and over again, and I thought how easy it would be to think life is meaningless if one did not know God. But, once you put God in the equation, my, how everything changes then! When the Lord is involved then the stranger you interact with for five minutes of your day becomes important. You may be able to bless him/her with a little bit of sunshine straight from God's heart to theirs. As a Christian there isn't anything that happens to us that hasn't passed through God's hands first. To me, that brings me immense comfort.

Update: A phone call from James...it was *intense*. Tremendously intense. He will not have the second flight until Tuesday so that will give him time to prepare and review more. Pray that he will be able to have excellent recall, excellent flying ability, fabulous 'GK' (general knowledge) and a peaceful, calm demeanor, knowing that the Lord is the 'wind beneath his wings.'

Have an excellent weekend everyone! A fabulous day of worship on Sunday! May we lift our hearts all across this world, as one before our almighty God! :)