Friends, Windmills & Hog barns

This story actually starts about two years ago. We moved to this area and there is a large number of wind mills that generate electricity. Now my hubby and I expressed a interest to know more about them. A gentlemen that attends the church that we were attending invited us to join him at a banquet which was given for all the land owners who have these windmills on their property. There was a speaker and we became more interested. At that meeting we toured one site of a finished windmill. Very interesting. Now they have started building another area of wind mills. I believe there are to be 67 in this group. I think it is 97 in the first group. Last Wednesday, July 21st Keith and Linda (the gentlemen & his wife) I before mentioned invited us to go for ice cream with them. We have become good friends with them. Anyway Keith took us to six different sites where windmills are at various stages of being build. When we went for ice cream I expressed I wished I had pictures to show our kids, who we will visit soon. Keith said buy a throw away camera and he would take us back to get pictures before we went to the kids. Well today Keith called and said he could do that this evening. It is so interesting and educational to see this on the site rather than in a video. Keith and his two sons have seven windmills on their join properties. They are to have two more build on their properties soon.
The lady that does my hair is married to one of Keith & Linda's son. The son's have the hog barns. They have 3,000 hogs. Anyway the night we went for ice cream I was asking Keith about the hog operation. Tonight he took us to two of the barns. One of them is empty right now because they sold the thousand pigs that were housed in it. It was totally fascinating to learn of the operation and everything involved. We talked about hog production, hog farm practices, of hog farming, heating, waste management, standard of keeping yourself sterile while working with the hogs, cooling, cleaning etc. Each of their barns have a shower which is required before entering the area with the hogs. Also they have a washer and dryer and when you finish chores you wash the clothes and they must take another shower before leaving the barn. You never go from one barn to the next without showering. We were very impressed. My hubby and I grew up on farms and are really enjoying being in a small town surrounded by beautiful farms.

First tomatoes

Last night my hubby picked three ripe tomatoes from our garden. We gave the nicest looking one to our neighbor lady. Today at lunch we enjoyed sinking our teeth into one of the other ones. It was delicious. It was a big boy. There are a number more starting to turn, Our other plant champion the fruit hasn't started to turn yet. Season of fresh produce. I love it.

Memories

Memories can be pleasant or then again not so pleasant. Well I usually chose to dwell on the pleasant ones. This morning I kept thinking of a memory of advise given me by a pastor when I was first dealing with some of the abuse that was done to me in the years of high school days. At first I didn't think I could do what he asked or suggested. His advise was PRAY for those that abused you. Well I told him I didn't know if I could do that. He suggested to pray for their family members first if I couldn't pray for them. It was good advise. There are sometime when the unpleasant memories return briefly. It is then a good time to again pray, pray, and pray some more.

Love

Love, Love, Love!!!
I just finished talking with my niece Violet. I love that girl. Now I love all my nieces and nephews allot. Wish I could spend more time getting to know them better. Violet and I live close to each other so have been able to spend more time together as adults. We laugh together allot. She tries to blackmail me with things I say or do. (just all in fun) I challenged her today to find a scripture which gave her permission to do that. I reminded her that God said " BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER"

Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone

This poem has been running through my mind a lot lately. The first time I saw it was the night I graduated from high school. Inside each of our diplomas was a little card with it written on.

Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone

Isn't it strange that princes and kings
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings
And common folks like me
Are builders of eternity.

To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules:
And each must make, ere time is flown,
A stumbling block or a Stepping Stone.
Author unknown

I am that shapeless mass and God's Word is the set of rules.
He also gave me different talents or gifts to use for Him. (His plan for our lives is to LOVE Him and GLORIFY Him forever.)
When I accepted His great salvation my live changed very much.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Praise God He is still changing me to be more like Him.
I know before I knew Christ I was a stumbling block.
If you know Him isn't the love of Jesus WONDERFUL!!!

Prescription drugs

Wow
Where do I start. Have you ever been fed up with taking to many med's. I have decided to take my self off a couple. I will do it gradually, but I feel it senseless to keep taking a couple that never did any good. Have been checking one of them especially. Many people had problems with always being tired from it. I have that reaction also at least from something I'm on. Another one that doc has me maxed out on and it didn't help so why keep taking it????? Excuse me, but I'm venting here. Very rarely do I do that.

Holiday, Friends

We celebrated the 4 Th today. Our neighbor and we grilled out. Try this recipe sometime.
Two pounds ground round
One package Lipton onion soup
One cup grated cheddar cheese
One/Fourth cup barbecue sauce
Mixed very well and grill
ENJOY
We will attend our worship service tomorrow morning. So thankful for that freedom.
We won't be seeing any live fire works tomorrow evening. We will watch a couple programs of them tomorrow evening.
I'm baking six dozen cookies to take to church for Bible school this up coming week.
We hope you have a safe & fun July 4 Th. Don't forget to worship.

Blessing

This morning as I was driving back from a near by town where I had to go for x rays I was thinking. You know we are so blessed to have a working car and not have to depend on horses as people in years gone by. We have to go to a city in the opposite direction this afternoon. I'm getting fitted for hearing aids this afternoon. Anyway we have had to go to that town every single day this week for doctors, dentist, etc. We are blessed to have a car.
This morning when I got home we have no water. We take so much for granted now days. Running water is great and I'm not sure whats up with none this morning, but I checked with a neighbor and they don't have any either so the city must be doing something and have it off.
Well I have to run and pick up hubby as I have the car. He went in early so he could go with me this afternoon for my appointment.
Wishing you all a wonderful, fun, safe, fourth of July.