Question for Grandpa

Aunt Marie was babysitting for Karla this weekend and the kids were here a lot. It's always fun when they come, but it's always so peaceful when they go! ha

On Saturday Doug was on his way to get a load of wood and Tucker and Gunner wanted to go (for the four-wheeler ride) and "help" Grandpa. So they got into their snow gear and they all rode away.

When Doug cuts wood, he goes into the woods that the fire in 1996 left behind. (Link to an old story.) The wood is good and dry and what hasn't fallen down is still good for burning. Doug usually cuts the wood, then tosses it out of the woods towards the trailer for loading. Depending on how far he is cutting from the small wood trailer he may heave wood several times. When it's near the trailer then I can pick it up and load it. That's where I usually am when I "help" and that is where the boys were.

So, Doug cut the wood, heaved it out several times, and when he got to the trailer where the boys were loading it, Doug stood to catch his breath just when Gunner took a look at him and said, "Grandpa? Aren't you gonna do anything?"

eLa-La-Land!

I've had continuing problems with my email account for as long as I can remember. It can go on for days without a hitch, then one day I get error messages saying my ISP does not accept my password. So it does not work for hours.

I call our ISP, they say it's a problem in my settings.(????grrr) So we go through the settings. They click on a MAGIC RESET HER EMAIL button every time because then it works again ---- for a while. Then sure as I have to breath to live, my mail goes down. I just got in the habit of waiting a few hours because by then it will be back.

Yesterday, Doug called our ISP because of a change coming down the line and they said that we needed to do some manual changes. While he had them on the line he told them to talk to me about my email problem. GRRRR. Again? So I talked to them.

The technician looked at our account and asked, what is your user name? I told him. "I don't see your email address, tell me again your user name..." (!!!) "Strange, there isn't an email address in your account like that." He went on to tell me that there is another account with that email address and her name is Laura.

HOW CAN IT BE? I've been getting mail via that account... (on and off) for years! How can we both get email with the same user name for years?

He put me on hold. When he got back on the line he was bold enough to tell me that I won't ever have that problem again. (Okay, yes sir.) Doug spoke with him again and asked how I could get email if my email was not on our account? He said, he didn't know and that my account was just floating around out there in eLa-La-Land and somehow getting my email to me anyway. (!!!!!!)

So! If you've written to me and I've received it, consider it all eJoy because it's been an ongoing eMiracle for us to even eCommunicate!

Today's Fire - Video

Wow, it's been 16 days since my last post! ha

Here I sit with nothing to write. What's wrong with these fingers! Usually I can sit down and my hearts spills out of my fingertips. My mind is full of thoughts, but my thoughts should not be shared.

There was a big fire and I could see it right from my house. I don't know what was burning but it was burning a long time. A few fire engines were there keeping a lid on it.

This fire was burning a long time. Perhaps it was a planned fire. I didn't hear any fire engines previous to seeing the fire that's why I think it may have been a planned fire. I think firemen do that sometimes.

Doug was a volunteer fireman on the North Slope for many years. Because he is quiet and does not speak up for things that have been overlooked, he didn't get his recognition until years after the fact! That just made my blood boil! He didn't share with me that this had happened until I asked.

Doug VanWingerden
1981 - 1996
Tanker No. 9 --- Firefighter
In recognition and appreciation for 15 years of dedicated and loyal service with the Greater Prudhoe Bay Fire Department.

I want to mention all those ever faithful people - - husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents, daughters, sons, firefighters, pastors, cleaners, care givers.... and on and on. People like Doug who have been there year after year, never paid, overlooked, and many times forgotten. Quiet and unassuming they certainly are not receiving the recognition and care that they deserve but do not expect.

For you is this forever faithful thought: God never, ever forgets and He will reward those that are faithful - maybe not in this world, but for sure it will be done someday.

Thank you Dougie, you are the best firefighter I know!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galations 5.

Worth Passing On

Some things are just worth the trouble to pass on! I thought these things that came in email were funny.

Hundreds Protest Global-Warming!

Are YOU Ready to Switch?

Now laugh.. because it's good for the body to laugh!

Marriage Mondays - The Surprise of Christian Marriage

Want this button?
Meeting at Lynn's Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

It's been many moons since I've participated at Marriage Monday's. The topic this month reminded me of my own big surprise when Doug and I were first married. It is not geared only to a "Christian" marriage though, it's just something that --- surprised me!

It's about the first night we slept together - I was woke up all night from the bed shaking! It's not what you probably are thinking right now! Well, it was not non-existent, but then too it was not the reason! The reason? My new husband has been blessed with an incredible heart and when it beat that night (and ever since) - it shook the bed!

His big, strong heart was the reason that the first few weeks of our marriage I had wild dreams! I remember lying there listening to him sleeping, shaking, and wondering if I would ever be able to sleep ever again! My wild dreams were the result of being kept half awake all night!

Not anymore. I sleep like a baby - well no, I'm not up all night anymore! :-)

Don't you think we kind of smile the same? ha