'Cat-birds' and cars.......

I love my cat. 'Kim the cat' is very loveable, he's a great mouser, he's very loveable, he's a great mouser.... Sounds like I am trying to convince myself.

Seriously, I love my cat because most of the time, he makes me laugh when I see him climb a tree after something that caught his eye - a bug, a leaf blowing, not necessarily a bird.



He's just a little freaky sometimes though, and I get so cracked up watching him. I took a picture of him a week or so ago with my 'old-fashioned' camera - the kind that you have to take the film to be developed. I love that old camera. He was sitting on top of a blue-bird house that we have in the yard. (I'll scan and post it later.)

Unfortunately, the blue-birds no longer use it because the squirrels chewed the opening out so that they could take up residence, and then a huge black snake took up residence. David opened the door of the birdhouse one day to see if there might be a blue-bird nest, and the snake fell out on him. Good thing it happened to David, because I wouldn't have lived to tell that story.

Anyway, I love my cat. Until he does something like this.......



In this photo, he almost looks proud of himself. I wanted to throw a bucket of water on him, but that would have created the need to wash the car, and I wasn't really that motivated. Besides that, when he saw me coming he would have jumped off and ran away. In truth, I wasn't really motivated enough to try to sneak up on him to throw water.



Oh well, another day maybe! I looked a lot like the cat soon enough..... but only in my recliner!!

It runs deep......

I've said it before, and I'll say it again....... the men in my family are fisherman. They love to fish, and nights like last night make it worthwhile.

As they headed to the lake, I said I'd be there shortly. Then the phone rang, and I was distracted briefly. Caleb came running back to the house yelling at me to bring the camera. This is what he wanted me to see - and show!!

It appeared to be huge!



Wait a minute..... It WAS huge........ and strange looking. It's called an Albino Catfish (I think!) That's what we called it. We've seen them in the lake for a couple of years now.



The 'excitement meter' just got pegged. This was serious business.... and so they fished... (this is Austin)...



.... and fished....



... and caught a small one.......... but THEN...



... Caleb caught this 'big Daddy'......



...using this little hook called a 'midget hook' which I've just learned from Caleb is about 1.5 inches long. (The picture is blurry, but I think you can tell how small the hook really is.)



This catfish was 5.2 lbs.... and 21 inches long..... I'd call that a keeper.

While they fished, I entertained myself by taking pictures of others things like this goose feather .... which was really quite large, but since there's no perspective in my picture,you can't really tell ....



... and this wildflower ...



... and this foot..... and it's BIG!! REALLY BIG, but since there's no perspective in the photo, and you can't see the entire foot, you can't really tell. But take my word for it - that's a BIG foot!!




Here they are side-by-side (the fish that is.... )



And here are the 'men' returning from their journey...





And that's the end to a perfect fishing trip....... well, all except the 'cleaning' which made me queasy and so I ran to the house and took my camera with me!!

Random Summer Fun

We' (Caleb, Ruth, and I) have been in a Missouri for a few days while David and Nate went fishing and had some 'guy time'. We left Saturday, so the guys have been in and out for the past few days going fishing. I heard they went to Gander Mountain and bought some new fishing tackle. Imagine that!! Nate's comment to Ruth - Dad said don't tell Mom 'cause we bought a ton of new fishing 'stuff'. David's comment to me - Nate said we didn't have enough fishing 'stuff'. I'm not sure who I should believe but it's become obvious that we can't leave the two of them home alone. David told me last night that he had to clean up the house because between the two of them, they'd had every tackle box he owns - and he owns a few - scattered across the living room and kitchen and 'gone through all of it.' My dear sweet husband is 'hard-core' when it comes to fishing and I'm afraid he may have corrupted Nate. Sorry Ruth!We've had some fun here in Missouri. We went to a rodeo on Saturday night, and I'm sorry that I didn't take any pictures - at least I can't find them on the camera. But we had a great time - we all decided that the Bull-riding was our favorite part of the rodeo. Then on Sunday, we went to the pool, Monday was a completely LAZY day...... I'm not even sure we left the house until we went to Gage's baseball game. Today, we're sitting here watching the storm clouds roll in and ruin our plans to go to Arrow Rock for a hike and picnic and then to the pool later in the day. Possibly a movie........ hmmm?

I've posted some random pictures below... The cat was about arm's length above my head in a tree.... Caleb at Track Day - one of the last day's before summer break... Caleb's cousin Gage - a little cutie....... Caleb and his other cousin Ryan - they are the same age and they go for months without seeing one another, but always pick up right where they left off and have so much fun together..... the boys at the pool 'warming up'.........

Trusting in.......... WHO????

I've read Proverbs before, but always thought that most of them were just strange little sayings that didn't make much sense. There are so many other things in the Bible that are easier to understand. Proverbs for instance, that are more straightforward (see June 2 post). I have found many that are quite interesting… and really good advice. Some are quite humorous to me, still others make good perfect sense while being easy to understand if given just a small amount of thought!

I don't know about you, but I've often had trouble with that 'trust' thing. I'm not a very trustworthy person…… Whoa… wait a minute. I think that should say I'm not a very trusting person. (I actually am a very trustworthy person!!) But seriously, it takes me some time to put my trust in something. I'm always a little skeptical. David likes to say that he's from the 'show-me' state of Missouri, and so I guess I'm often like that - 'SHOW ME' before I'll believe what you're telling me. I've reached a point in my life though, where I really do trust God whole heartedly. I know that He is sovereign - in total control. I trust Him, but it took me some years to come to that reality. I've always held back just a little, Because I, like so many others want to make my own plans, and then ask God to come alongside and help me go along that path. But I have come to a new understanding about God and 'my' plans from the following Proverbs.

Proverbs 16:9 - We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 19:21- You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 20:24 - The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

Hmmmm, it seems that they're not really my plans after all. They're HIS plans. And what's that?? HIS purpose will prevail despite the fact that I've made all of these plans. UGH. I guess my time and energy is being wasted with all of the planning. OK, so I'll let him make the plans, but I'll keep a tight rein on things so that I'm aware of all that's going on just in case any changes need to be made. Ohhh WAIT a minute… He directs my steps too? I suppose it's useless for me to try and understand. OK, I've got it now. According to Proverbs 3:5, I'm supposed to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways acknowledge him, and he will make my paths straight.

WOW!! That's pretty exciting to know that my life will be less difficult, when I trust Him to take care of the details! Someone said to me recently, 'Let go and let God.' Pretty good advice, huh?!

My heart is heavy...

Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 12:26 (NLT) The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.

Proverbs 17:17 (NLT) A friend is always loyal, and a brother was born to help in time of need.


In Ruth 1:16 we read that Ruth tells Naomi, 'Wherever you go, I will go also. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'

In 1 Cor 13:4-7, we learn that 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.'

Seriously - my heart is heavy for 3 teenagers with whom I've recently become acquainted. All struggle with their value and self-worth.


For two of the three, failure is met with yelling, screaming and ugly words. Success is most often met with complacency - ignored because whatever is going on at the moment - TV, friends, drugs, alcohol - is more important than the success... No praise, no 'attaboy' just complacency - 'SO WHAT.' Both are now living away from their families, in a Christian home where there is love, genuine concern about a failure, and praise for success.


The third teen lives in a good Christian home, but for whatever reason struggles with her self-worth and believes that she can never measure up. She told me that she has no real close friends that she can count on in the tough times. All of these kids have friends, but it seems that those 'friends' are not closer than a brother; not giving good advice; nor are they sticking around when the tough times come along.

I pray that these teenagers, and others like them will find the type of friends talked about in Proverbs, or someone like Ruth who will go with them wherever they go. I pray that they will be surrounded by people who will show genuine love and concern as in Corinthians, and learn to trust, and have hope in God's love. In the meantime, I pray also that they will trust the adults who've been placed in their lives, and trust in the peace and love that Jesus gives ALWAYS.

Proverbs and more...

I've been reading through Proverbs these past few days and some mornings I have to admit that I just chuckle at some of the things I read. It's been very thought-provoking.

My One-Year Chronological Bible is in the NLT and I really like that translation. But sometimes I refer back to my NIV just so that I can see the difference in wording. Like many other people, sometimes I like - appreciate - understand - one translation better than the other.

Proverbs 10:19 (NIV) When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his toungue is wise. WOW - that is very good advice. But I have to admit that my blunt, straightforward nature likes the way the NLT says this particular Proverbs much better.

Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut!

Ummm - I think I've said enough!