Saturday stroll

Just about the only folks we have a chance to meet are those who have not yet gone to work.  Some people have been waiting as long as a month to go to work.  The dismal economy has slowed down distribution at Amazon.com, also. 

We decided to take a stroll after breakfast this morning.  It's another beautiful day here.  Over by the playground part of this park is a pole with this sign attached to it.  The sign says: 2007 Flood Level.  I should have had Don stand beside the pole so you could see exactly how high the water got.  It's at least seven feet to the mark. A few days ago, this gentleman was walking by our 5'er with this little Chihuahua/Corgi mix and I didn't have my camera.  So, the only reason I'm going to share this story is because I want to testify as to how much God loves us and cares about the very small desires of our hearts. (I feel a little foolish telling you what I asked God for.){insert grin} While I was putting on my shoes, I asked the LORD to allow me to see this little doggy again so I could get a picture.  My Father answered my prayer.  He used my desire to take a picture to bring about our meeting of two very nice people and their little Bootsy.  This is Bill (from Florida and California) and Bootsy.Bootsy, two years old, was a little shy, but she soon warmed up to me. She is definitely a miniature of my Murphy, the corgi I had before we became full-timers, except Bootsy has a tail!.We visited with Bill, Mary and Bootsy for quite a while.  Mary said that she has taught Bootsy how to sit up with her paws crossed as she says the blessing for her food and the same when she says her prayers at night.  I would really love to get a picture of that!  They were tickled to hear about church here and said they would see us there in the morning.

Thank you, sweet LORD, for answering my prayer in such a perfect way.

We continued our stroll and decided we would walk the levee by the Verdigris River.

We took our time and stopped to watch the bulldozer working in the new addition to the RV park.  There goal was to have this addition ready by Nov. 1.  They didn't make it.

Behind us.In front of us.Behind us.In front of us after we turned the corner. 8th Street is in front of us.Behind us is the curve in the levee.Soybean field next to the Walter Johnson Park.  We had a great view from on top of the levee.Another couple taking a Saturday morning stroll, also. They're way back there in the center of the picture.We finally made it around to 8th Street and only about 1/4 mile from the 'house.'  I guess the L.M. Francis' (name on top of the mailbox) once lived down this drive, but not anymore... no house there now.Just wee bit of color in a couple of the trees we passed.

Our Saturday morning stroll turned out to be over a mile hike, but it was fun.  You know, anytime I can take pictures AND walk with my sweetie, I'm going to have a good time. Hope you enjoyed meeting Bootsy and our stroll on the levee by the river.

While trying to post this... having a little trouble... our neighbor, Gene, from a few doors down, knocked on our door to tell us that his wife, Jorine's, older and only brother living, passed away suddenly this morning while working on a Habitat for Humanity project in Bloomfield, IL.  Don and I walked over immediately and talked to & hugged Jorine, mostly allowing her to talk and we prayed with her.  She and Gene will leave in the morning and be gone for about a week or so.  Please pray for this family at this time, for comfort and for safety as they travel.  Gene and Jorine have been to church every Sunday, but one and are a sweet Christian couple.  She said her brother was a Christian and she drew much comfort in knowing that she will see him again.  Right now, because she's the only one left in her family, she feels somewhat like an orphan and it's tough for her.  As we pray for this to be a sweet time of reflection for the family, it's no coincidence that I had already added the following to this post.

Commandment No. Two

(think about it)

You CAN count on it & 1 0f 12 commandments

Friday, October 31

Count On It (by Dr. David Jeremiah)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:3

Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:11-16

When you read or watch The Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings, you know that what you're watching isn't reality- that it's fiction created to entertain and to convey a message. Unfortunately, too many people - even Christians - view prophecies about the future that way.

Think about it: Millions of Christians being removed from planet earth instantly; a one-world ruler gaining power before being assassinated and coming back to life; cataclysmic natural events in the heavens and on earth; Jesus Christ appearing on a white horse in the sky, accompanied by millions of saints and angels - sometimes people view these happenings like science fiction: They've never happened before, so it's unlikely they'll happen in the future. But you have to ask whether your doubts can stand up against the words of Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul. They both said, in essence, "Count on it. The future of the world is as certain as the past."

If you are not confident that your doubts are stronger than Jesus' and Paul's declarations, consider recommitting yourself to the trustworthiness of Scripture.

God promises to keep His people, and He will keep His promises. Charles Spurgeon

Thanks to Wendy Fury, I will be posting the Twelve Commandments... one each day. The pictures are adorable and the "commandments" are good. Today: I've made up my mind to be happy; it's a choice I make. It's payday Friday here and I love the simple task of passing out checks and greeting the people with a smile and a kind word (and candy today). If you missed "More from Wednesday's Wanderings in SE Kansas" <<==just click on the title here.

Please pray for Abby

Please pray for Abby Riggs. I received this email from her daddy, Brent, this morning:

"LaVon,
Abby woke up today with bruises and little blood "dots" all over her.

She had to go back in the hospital where her condition has worsened with fever and other symptoms.

We continue to covet your prayers for her, and for us to stay healthy and strong as a family.

More about Abby on the family blog, if you want: RiggsFamilyBlog "

I have also added a "Pray for Abby" picture with link in the menu, top right.

Thank you for your prayers for this dear and precious little girl.

Sunday's Coming

Since it was late, late when I went to bed last night (this morning), it was later when I got up.  Don took advantage of the quiet and sent out his Sunday's Coming.  ==>>Go there now and be blessed.<<==

Wednesday wandering in SE KS

Don's excuse today:  We need to go to Wal-Mart to get a printer cartridge.  Obee-kaybee.  That's fine with me... when he says "go," I'm in the truck... well, mentally, I'm in the truck.  It takes my body a little time to catch up with my mind.  Usually, Don is waiting outside with his key ready to lock the 5'er door and open my truck door.  He's such a gentleman.  Did I ever tell you that?  He really is such a gentle man.

He also mentioned something about going to Independence, KS to see if there were more fall foliage over there or on the way there.

On the way out of Coffeyville, I took these pictures of the one million square foot Amazon.com super distribution center where all the workampers in our park are working.

As we got to Indy, I noticed this bridge.  My goodness, it looks just like the one in Coffeyville... the 3-arch concrete bridge built in 1926. over the same river, Verdigris.  They could be twins. (Look at that blue sky!  It's a beautiful day to be out.)  Right away, I saw a tree of color, but we went past too fast, so my sweet husband made the block to come back to it.  On this block was this huge 3-story house.Here's the backside of the 3-story house.  It has a balcony on the 3rd floor!The tree that I wanted a picture of.  The sun is in front of me, so the red of this tree doesn't show up as well as it was... just glowing.  But even on the shaded side, you can see the color.I absolutely can not get enough of these houses.  What an amazing architectural style. Independence was home to many families made wealthy by the oil and gas boom of the turn-of-the-century and many of the homes reflect the affluence.This is a tree!!!Breathtaking. Can you imagine this in another week? Remember, we are in Independence, Kansas. Like Coffeyville, there's a church building on every corner. Can you believe, this is the same library today.....  ......built in 1907.  

I wonder if this house was originally painted purple?  I kind of doubt it.  KSU fans must live here.   Wow! Another church. In the Riverside Park.Could this be the same truck as .... this?  Naw. Maybe this.. look, it is the same house in both pictures... this one taken in 1910. 

The llama family was about the only animals we saw driving by the Ralph Mitchell Zoo.  Isn't this baby cute?  Wonder what you call a baby llama... Google..  a CRIA. This quiet, secluded area in the zoo caught our eye. A plaque under the open book with the Ten Commandments on the left and John 3:16 on the right, states this area was donated by the Independence Ministerial Alliance in 1966. I think this is the largest cemetery I've ever seen, not counting Arlington Memorial in D.C.  This one is about two blocks wide and goes on for blocks and blocks along Penn Ave. This wall goes all around it.  I took this picture for the tree, of course. This barn is part of a huge estate on the east side of Independence. This is part of the house on this estate.  We were actually on a street that said "Private Drive" at the entrance, but there wasn't anywhere to turn around.  Back up? Well, that's Independence, Kansas.  Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.  We went from Indy to Neodesha (pronounced Neo-duh-shay), from there to Parsons, from Parsons, to Altamont and then back to Coffeyville.  It's 2:35 AM... will post the rest of today ... tomorrow. 

~~~~~~~

I would rather live my life as if there is a God,

and die to find out there isn't,

than live my life as if there isn't,

and die to find out there is.