Day 117.  A couple of years ago, I got into some carving classes at the local art center.  The goal was to get good enough to carve on a walking stick.  The instructor was pretty good and made it look easy.  I finished two faces before my schedule wouldn't allow me to keep attending.  It was a lot of fun and I met some good people.  I didn't have the right tools so I had to borrow some, and that's not fun.  Anyway, it's seems to be getting harder to find things to take pictures of.  I really need to get out to the park or someplace besides home or the church.  But that is where I am everyday, home and the church.  These last couple of days I haven't been motivated to take a picture, but, Stacy won't let me quit.  I am glad for that, because I do want to finish this project.  Only 248 days to go.

Day 116.  This is actually from Saturday.  Dugan played in the All Region Band and they did so great.  He is also pretty good at tennis, and getting better.  I hope all my kids realize that they can do anything if they really try, and I love watching them try.  Dugan wasn't sure he wanted to try out for the All Region Band.  He had some good encouragment that helped him decide.  When it was over he was so glad he did.  Life is to full of regrets over things we didn't do.  I'm glad this experience will never be a regret for him.  And next year will be even better.

Day 115.  The next time I move, if there is a next time, I will have a check list for things to look out for.  One of those things is to see what kind of trees are in the yard.  Almost all trees make a mess in the fall with leaves and in the spring with blossoms.  But, we have sticks in our yard all year round.  The very large globe willow is constantly dropping them.  Most are small, but there is quite a few that are pretty large. So, quiet often we go pick them up, especially after a windy day.  Saturday was very windy and the yard was full of branches.  Maggie helped me pick them up and take them off.  I wonder if Jesus gets as tired of cleaning me up as I do cleaning up those sticks.  I'm glad his patience is great.

Day 114.  It is Veterans Day.  We had a great service this morning honoring our veterans and encouraging patriotism.  The uniforms we displayed were from guys that go or have gone to our church.  It was very cool to see the different style uniform from different wars.  There was a time, about 30 years ago, that I felt that the veterans hospital was only a place for soldiers to go to die.  The one time I went there was not a good experience.  I have been back several times since and wow what a change.  It is an up to date facility and they take very good care of our service men and women.  I am so pleased to be able to say that.  Because, our veterans deserve the best. 

Day 113.  I know that the dust bowl days were worse than this, but I didn't experience those days.  I did experience this, today.  The dirt gets in your mouth and eyes, nothing can keep it out.  I opened the door and I could feel the dirt blowing in.  I was afraid that if I took a picture no one would be able to tell what it was.  So, I waited for a vehicle to either drive out of it or into it.  Now you can see it.  What you can't see is the building and the windmills that are just past where the truck is.  They are completely blocked out by the dirt.  If we don't get rain soon, and a lot of it, the dust bowl won't be such a distant memory,  Lord we need rain, not a sprinkle, not a rain that comes fast and hard and leaves the same way.  We need a ground soaking, lake filling, aquifer replenishing, rain.  Could you send it very soon, thank you.

Day 112.  My girls.  Annie is not really scared, she is trying to keep her eyes open from the flash.  She has the hardest time with that.  I know that everybody says this but my girls ARE the best.  If I told you about them as individuals this post would be so long no one would read it.  So I'll try to keep it short. They all have the same quirky sense of humor, that I love, and an over developed sense of loyalty, that I depend on, and a desperate need to follow the rules.  They all have strong personalities that make them awesome friends, and great leaders.  But, to me they are My Girls, and I love them so much.

Day 111.  Tonight I was at a place where I got to see the sunset.  Usually I only get to see it rise.  There I was out with the family and I looked up and there was this really cool sunset.  I got up and went to get a better perspective.  Stacy told me later that Annie asked her where I was going, and she replied, "he has his camera and he saw something, that's what he does."  I had to laugh, because it's true.  There isn't to many times that we go somewhere and I don't have my camera with me.  If I'm not taking my camera I make sure that Stacy has her small one in her purse, just in case.  I am realizing more and more every day that it is very easy to overlook so many of God's blessings in my life.  From the colors in the sunset to the beauty and uniqueness in our family.  We are so blessed.  I may not catch all of them, probably not most, but I want to be sure and find as many as possible.  I will never run out of things to praise God for.