One Year Ago Today…

We moved into our new home along the banks of Flat Creek.  It has been a joyous year being able to step outside our home; especially out the back doors, and hear the sound of the creek as it rolls down toward Table Rock Lake several miles away.

It was a joy to last Winter watch the Eagles as the soared above our heads, house and land.  It was also with joy that when the tornado struck Joplin, MO. we had the house and space for our son James, his wife, and Archer and for a short while even Pillar and Skillet; to move in with us for a couple of months until they could find them a new home.  Archer, ended up finding his home with us permanently.  We have really enjoyed having him around too.  I do not remember as a boy with a dog having as much fun and joy as I have had with Archer.

Anyway, the year has gone by quickly.  There is much work we need to do around our home yet.  We need to get a front porch built on it.  We also want to built a back deck.  That will still come.

One day we would like to get the old house my father was born and raised in fixed up and use it for family and friends to stay in when they come visit.  That will be a while in coming.  There is much work to do, and with being a pastor, driving a school bus there just does not seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything I would like to do.

I just thank the LORD Almighty for His blessings, His grace and His mercy.  I also thank Him for our home which we are only stewards; and I pray will be always faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to our care.

Being blessed daily along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Eagles Are Flying

Of course that is not really anything new.  They have been flying, perching, birthing, eating, breathing, and living for millenniums of time.  However,  I did see my first eagle this season flying over our house.

It flew in a circle over the house as though he was checking us out, and to let me know they were back.  There was no doubt in my mind it was a bald eagle.  The white head and tail feathers glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

I was glad to see our friends had returned to the banks of Flat Creek.  A blessing from our Creator, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.

And, one other little thing.  Do you remember the “Little Girl” (the little corgy dog which adopted us) well, now she is “Little mama”.  On Sunday evening October 23, she was beginning to have puppies when we arrived home from church.  Monday morning when I left to go drive the school bus, she had seven, though one was dead, laying beside its mother.

If anyone wants a puppy in a few months let me know, and we will see what we can do about that.

-Tim

Frost on the Grass…

Wednesday morning when I arose from bed there was frost on the grass, on the cars, the trees, and the temp was 30 degrees outside.  It was not a heavy frost, but frost none the less.  We have had frost every morning since then.  And there is this morning as well.

I mowed the backyard yesterday afternoon.  It was needing it, the grass was still very green, however the tomato plants were wilted, so I pulled them, and dug the soil of our small raised garden we had on the East side of our house.  It never had much in it except tomatoes and onions.  Neither one did very well; though the tomato plants nearly diminished during the heat of the Summer, and grasshoppers demolished the green of the plants, they did come back when we got some rain.  The tomato plants were doing real well, just small tomatoes, and they should have been larger.

Just to let anyone interested to know; I am still writing in my journal; and almost every day.  I think I have missed one day since I first began on August 30.

I rejoice in knowing that the Creator of all that is is also my Lord and Savior.  Praise Him.

-Tim

Flat Tire

Over a month ago I borrowed my Dad’s tractor and began doing some brush hawgin on our place.  It was looking pretty good until a broken shear-pin stopped it – the brush hawg that is.  So I was done for the day; then, after I got another pin for the PTO shaft of the machine the right front tire went flat.  It set for several days even over a month, before I decided to take it and get it fixed.

Well I did that on Wednesday morning.  Thursday morning [yesterday, October 13] I did some more brush hawgin finishing up the garden spot, and a small area of the corner of our back yard.  Then, I went down by the old barn, did a few rounds, then, guess what?  That is right.  The right front tire went flat again.

I got the tractor to a better location, then shut it down.  I guess I stuck a nail or something in it this time, because it went down fast.  What I did get done does look better now.

I guess you noticed that I changed the name of this blog?   YES! I did notice.

God is truly good and blesses beyond measure.

-Tim

 

Flat Creek

If you notice the background picture of this blog you will see Flat Creek as it flows along toward the bluff the road is on toward our house.  You will also notice the name change of this blog.  It seems to be a bit more fitting than the name of this contributor to the blog.

I grew up on a farm along the banks of Flat Creek.  That farm is part of the piece of land which my wife and I have ownership of; and have been given to care for for a while.  We enjoy living where we live.  We can hear the creek as it flows; and at times we can see it as we sit at our dining room table through the patio door.

I think the name change is a positive thing.

Enjoy, be blessed as we write of living along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

A Colorful Drive

I was out early this morning going to our church’s Men’s Breakfast.  In the early morning hour before sunrise you could not see the colors of the season.  However, as I was coming home I noticed how the leaves on the trees are changing. My they are colorful.

Our Creator has done a mighty good work of art in this creation He has made.  The trees with their colors of green, red, yellow, orange, and even brown make a beautiful landscape to behold.

Yet, we all need to realize the beauty He has put in the crowning work of His creation.  His crowning achievement is the finished work of His Son Jesus Christ and what He can do for  you and me.  Even though we are marred by the dark, blackness of sin; yet, there is  that Light that can be seen, because of the death, burial and  resurrection of our Creator.  He died, yet He lives and lives forevermore.

Look out today and see this glorious thing that God has wrought.  Look within your heart and see what He wants, what He desires to do in you.

-Tim