Sunday

First, I will report on yesterday.  Not much going on during the day.  Around 4:30, we met Dennis and Sally over at the RecPlex for a fish fry that FBC Hollister was having at one of the pavilions.  Fish and shut-up dogs were cooked by Buddy who was the previous owner of the famous Rails Restaurant here in Branson.  Well, let me just say that The Rails isn't nearly so famous since Buddy isn't there anymore.  He cooks the best fried catfish!!  Well, Wendy, it's the best we've ever eaten, to date, excluding John Cartwright's and John's hush puppies were definitely the best.  Don finally got his fried catfish fix, our first since the wonderful catfish John Cartwright cooked for us in Arizona City. 

Afterwards, Dennis and Sally came over for coffee and a good game of Spades.  Guys 1, Gals 2.  :-))  They have family in Indiana and we prayed for their safety during all the flooding that is going on there.  I spoke with my friend, Liz, who lives there and she said it was awful... fences covered in debris, roads and bridges washed out, trucks falling into holes caving in the roads, tons of dirt washed away, dumpster, ice-for-sell boxes and other items washed away and now stranded in fields.  Liz's son works 15 minutes from home and it took him over an hour to get to work today.  There home is on high ground so they didn't have flooding into the house.  Thank God.

Our neighbors were back for a little while this weekend, so I got some good pictures of their mini Cooper for Stephanie.  Travis said that Sue is about ready to sell it so we told him to let us know when she's ready to sell it.  It's a convertible!  Soooo cute. I'm sorry, I didn't ask Travis what year model it is. Nice leather seats and clean interior in great condition.

Church was good again this morning.  Don continued his series of sermons on the parables of Jesus in the Book of Luke.  Title today was "What is the Kingdom of God?" and it was very thought provoking.  Once again, everyone their heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  One lady, at KOA, took Don seriously when he said they could interact with him and she spoke up to ask a question.  It was great and Don answered her question with wisdom from the Lord.  And he never skipped a beat, but just tied it right in with the sermon.  There were only six of us here at Oak Grove and we had a good service.  Over at KOA, there was a really nice group.  They just kept drifting in.  We were delighted that Mike Wilson was back with us and Cami and the kids also were able to come with him.  This is the first Sunday they have both been off work together in a long time.  Mike played the piano and led the singing for us this morning. 

We took our usual Sunday afternoon nap... mine lasted longer than Don's  When I got up, Dave and Darlene called with a Farkel scoring question.  I thought that was so nice of them to wait until I got up from my nap to call. :-)  Darlene finally got to wear her shorts today as the weather there in Michigan is warming up.  Was great to talk to them.  They're getting doctor's visits taken care of, also.

Don and I sat out under the awning late this afternoon and waved at passersby.  This was just too cute. So Jennifer came back so I could get a better picture of Harley riding in the basket.  Harley... a big name for such a small pooch. He's a 3- year-old minature Yorkshire Terrier.  Look at that cute face. We visited with Jennifer, husband Randy and their daughter Caleigh from Houston, Texas, as they rode their bicycles around the park.  They are on their way to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  It looks like a wonderful place to go.  They are trying to visit all the states in the U.S. before Caleigh graduates from high school.  What a blessed little girl she is.  Caleigh told us that her high school picks 14 students to travel abroad each year and she was chosen to go on a three week backpacking trip in China this time next year.  She was a delightful teenager and probably a model student. 

After we said goodbye to Caleigh and her parents, this couple came by with their Yorkie who was only four months old, but was much bigger already than Harley.  (sorry it's blurry) Here's my photo-of-the-day. Aren't you glad I shared it with you?

If you haven't already checked out Snookie's The Quinn's Awesome Journey, you must do so.  She has taken some more amazing pictures and their time on the Navajo Nation is so interesting.

I know you are wondering what the question was that the lady asked in church.  Well, Don was talking about loving others and treating people the way you would like to be treated, responding to those EGR's in your life with grace and compassion.  The lady spoke up and asked "How do you talk to those people that you REALLY do not like or have serious issues with when you really don't want to... just can't do it?"  Don responded that she was absolutely correct... we can't do it in our own strength.  These type of situations required divine intervention, but we have to be willing to be obedient to God's command for us to love one another, take that first step with a prayer in our hearts and God will take over from there.  He made it real and personal admitting that he has had people in his life like this, but Jesus has helped him overcome and be a blessing to these folks.  While this was going on, I thought of what I had read just this morning on E-Inspiration. 

Click on this sentence to read the very short story about Corrie Ten Boom.  It's the second story on the page.

Pretty incredible, huh?  After church, I shared this story with the lady.  She seemed to really appreciate Don's answer and this story.  She had seen the Corrie Ten Boom movie and remembered the scene with the guard.  (note to self:  rent or purchase this movie). We pray that she will step out and let God help her in her EGR (extra grace required) moments.  It's liberating.

Blessings to all and safe travels!