Today

Today  was beautiful, endless blue sky dotted with puffs of white clouds. The temperature has broken from the blistering heat of this past summer. It is good to have the windows open, to remove the stale air.
Last night as I laid in bed, I listened to the toads sing their nightly chorus. I was thinking how it seems as thought there less crickets this summer. I still have yet to see a firefly here. Remembering capturing fireflies on warm summer nights as a child. Those days seem far off into the past. This summer has been a summer to adjust to life with out a job.  I reflect back on last summer's torture at the job. A job that robbed, stole physical, mental, emotional health. God, works in mysterious ways that go beyond a human understanding.
God, show the pain and took action. Remember sitting there listening to lies, the temper rising as it has known to do. The moment before it erupted God muted, whispered that I answer to a higher authority.

In the year has followed God has worked in my life in ways that I have never known to be possible. The first lesson was about control, my way of trying to fix it on my own. When I have been faced with problems I have always wanted my own control, my way to solve it. The end results have not always been good. In the past it has been a battle with God. This time it was not a battle, rather submission to let Him control the problem. While is still a struggle today, I have faith that God's glory will prevail. I stand in faith  and wait upon God for his answer. This past year my faith and understanding of God's will, has become more clearer.
While the past is done, reflections, the lessons learned, linger. I thank God for his forgiveness for the multitude of sins and the people I have hurt. Such love, fogiveness from God for this wayward son, who has in past cursed God,  ran from God. I have learned that one can not hide from God.

A Month coming to a Close

September, is about to close, summer fades with it. The blistering heat of this past summer is succumbing to the cool of fall. Today we will won't climb out of the sixties, just to think last Friday is was in the 90's. September is also the anniversary of the last time I worked. In this past year I have had to adjust not working.

There are moments when I miss work, not the pain that went with it. After 35+years of standing on cement floors, the knees have worn out. I gave a lifetime to an industry that destroys the body. While there sweet memories over the last 35 years, the last five are not going to remembered as sweet. I do not think I have ever worked as hard for so little as I have for the last five years. Then to be fired for basically for personal reasons, that to be denied unemployment benefits. The wound is slowly closing and the harsh memories will fade with it. I would have liked to close on a high note and not a low note. God, took me out because I won't  recognize the physical toil it was taking. When it was over I was both a physical and emotional wrecked.
The emotional wounds have all  healed, the physical deterioration continues as my arthritis riddles my body. Some days the pain is bearable other days it can be unbearable. The first hour after waking is the worse, as the night stiffness leaves the body.

During this time that my faith, walk with God has become deeper. For the first time  in my life  I gave God the controls to my life. I did not run from God, I have learned that you can not out run or hide from God. God, has been working in my life this past year in a way  that I have never known or felt. While this year has been a struggle, the struggle goes on. We are now faced with no running car or the means to replace it. Somehow God has the answer, I lean in faith on that promise.

Next month we will be taking a trip to Tyler Texas. To visit Betty's son and his family for a week.
It will be good for Betty to see her grand babies, great to put behind the struggle temporarily.
It will be an epic journey on a bus, I have not rode a bus since the early 70's. I am so sure of sitting for that long. Hopefully we be able to bird in the Holy Grail of birding some.

Most days I am kept busy with projects. One my projects will unfold here in this blog. I have become interested in the history of Fort Smith. I am going to begin to chronicle this city's buildings and homes through photographs.  I will also chronicle some areas where buildings were and what has replaced them. This city has a rich history, was critical link  to travels west, has had several natural disasters, fires. The photos that I will I present will mostly done in sepia to give it a more original feel. Some homes has been preserved, others have been left in ruins, still others have been ravaged by fire. The first home  in my chronicle  is a home that was destroyed by fire during restoration.  The home is at the end of 13th Street, while I am still researching the history. The photos here of the fire ravaged  home shows that one time it was a grand home.

This home is a fine example of a restored home.

Fire ravaged home 13th Street

additional photos

additional photos

additional photos

Even the Lion could not ward off the fire.

a marker in downtown.

As this unfolds we will travel back to understand the history, its role.

We are in valley and God knows the way out. We trust in Him to lead us out. I am weary of the constant struggle. God, never promised a life without struggle or avenues paved with gold while earth. There is a purpose anf his will be done.

First of September

September has arrived, summer blazes on. There was a brief amount of rain, it brought the temps down to the low 80's. It added a dense humidity to the air. Soon fall will win over the summer heat.

Throughout our nation's history we have excellent, good, mediocre, and horrible presidents. Some have been strong leaders in time of crisis, others have been weak, still others had been very pathetic

We have only one President that has total disdain for this nation. His lack of leadership skills have shown how weak he is.

The latest outrage that he has committed against this nation. Can only be explained that he has a desire to be elevated to the world leadership  stage. His State Department, submitted to the U.N. High commission for Human Rights. For supposed violations of  human rights here in this great nation. How can a American President expose this nation to the world in this way. He puts this nation in the bin of evil nations such as Sudan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc. He shames Governor Jan Brewer  of Arizona for her actions to do what this country won't do.

Why does President Obama have such disdain for this country? What was his desire to be President of a nation that he has such disdain for? Those answers will probably will never be answered. We can look into his childhood  for possible answers. His educational background, those that have shaped  his philosophy.

There is historical evidence that this nation was founded on  Christian principles. Documents confirm our commitment to God and his laws.  Patrick Henry stated "It can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ" Is God using President Obama to bring us to our knees to repent? To bring this nation back to its original Christian principles?  God throughout this nation's history has discipline this nation when it strays too far from those principles.  President has abandoned those Christian principles that found this nation. God dealt with Kings that have not adhered to His Godly principles.

The rain was welcomed this afternoon. Rain cleanse the air  and leaves a sweet smell afterwards. I do not think even a deluge could was away the stink in Washington DC.  For two years now the garbage has been piling up and its stench. Has President Obama finally gone too far. He is finally exposing his true agenda to the world. The hand God will be upon him.

Till tommorrow we will see where the journey and the odd turns take us. I want to thank Carol A Tabar for her excellent article on American Thinker. Thanks to the late great Paatrick Henry for is insightful prespective.