Only Since July Fifth

The title of this writing is how long it has been since I posted anything here.  School has gotten back in session in every location that I am aware of and is certainly true for Cassville School District for which I drive a bus.

Here we are just six days away from Thanksgiving Day and only 38 days until Christmas.  Wow!  How time flies by.

Back in October around the 23rd of the month our daughter, and oldest child had a stroke, and was hospitalized for about 5 days plus.  She is home doing well, and is recovering.  Please pray for Charity and continued recovery.  She is gradually recovering strength, still needs the prayers of the warriors of Christ to intercede for her.

My oh my how the world needs to know the God of the Bible, the Father of Jesus Christ; He who sent His only Son to die in our place, to redeem us unto Himself.

It has certainly been a beautiful Fall season.  Temperatures have been a little colder than normal, but hey, I live in Missouri.  You never know what the weather will be like.  There is a saying that has been said around our parts, “If you don’t like the weather; stick around for a bit, it’ll change.”

If I do not get back to this site to leave a message of Thanksgiving blessing or Merry Christmas; let me give it to you now.  HAVE BLESSED THANKSGIVING DAY,   a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.  I will always keep Christ in the season.  He is the reason for the season.

From the banks of Flat Creek,

~tim

Early Autumn Days

We are now three days into Autumn of the year.  It is wonderful having cooler temps; even though I am a Summer type guy.  Summer heat starts getting to me nowadays.  These 40 – 50 degree mornings are wonderful; though I do need to wear a light jacket.

It is a wonderful thing getting up in plenty of time each morning to read the Bible, spend time with God in prayer and hearing Him too through  His Word.  Then going out on the School Bus and watching the sun rise in the Eastern sky as I head east down highway 76.

At this time I do not see it rising as I am heading down 76, but later as I am picking up some of the passengers.

It is a glorious thing to watch the sun rise and know the One who gives it to us.

Have a wonderful, marvelous Fall day.

Having one on the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Early Fall

It has been a week now that the Autumnal Equinox occurred.  We have received a little rainfall in the past week as well which is a real blessing.  It has, however, been quite some time since there has been any water flowing over the banks of Flat Creek.  It has been at least one and one half years since the Creek flowed over the banks.

With the rain we have received our yard has needed mowing, and  I have mowed some of it, but not all.  I am back to pushing a twenty inch push mower to mow my nearly three acres of grass.  That is hard to keep up with, especially when you have other things needing done.

I am thankful for the green grass.  It was such a drab to look across our yard and only see brown, dead grass lying on the soil.  The trees I planted and the “Rose of Sharon” shrubs, as well are doing well.  At least some of the trees are doing well.  I planted eleven poplar trees, and only six are surviving.  All twelve of the “Rose of Sharon” shrubs survive.  I watered them every morning during the century degree weather; which was nearly every day for a month here in our valley.  I watered them everyday even when it was not in the hundreds of degrees.  The tallest trees are about five feet tall now.  From maybe two feet to five.  Those that are five feet; at least two of them were cut back due to dog damage, yet they have out grown the others.

It will not be long and it will be Thanksgiving.  I try to make each day a day of thanksgiving; and I fear there are days I fail to be thankful.  May there never be another.

-tim

Being blessed with more Rain

Today is the last day of Summer.  At least according to the calendar hanging on my wall.  Friday the 23rd is the first day of Autumn.  That seems to be a little later than usual to me.  It seems to usually fall on the 21st or so; but not in 2011 I guess.

It is raining again.  Thank the Lord of all grace and mercy and love.  It is wonderful how He loves us all.  It seems to me that rain is a reminder of His love, grace and mercy and our need.

It will not be long and we will all be longing for those warm, even hot Summer days; at least I know I will.  I must admit some of these past Summer days were extremely hot; but that is Summer.

It is great to be alive.  It is great to have family and friends whom I love and who loves me.  It is even greater still to know that there is a God in Heaven who also lives within me, because He loves me and cares for every need.  All because of the gift of His Son Jesus – His death on the cross, burial and resurrection; and knowing that one day soon He will return.  O,  What a day that will be…

Thanks for the rain.

-Tim

Started Mowing

Yeah!  I mowed a few rounds around the front yard yesterday afternoon.  There are some green sprigs of grass springing up and starting to make the yard look more like it needs mowing; however, I guess it doesn’t need it bad enough to make a showing.

I could tell where I had mowed if I took careful attention to watch carefully as those wheels turned.  So I decided to ride the mower up to the cemetery and mow it.  It hadn’t been mowed since June or so, and still wasn’t too high; because it has been so dry.  I could see where I had mowed though.  I didn’t do any trim work, just the mowing.

When I came back; before I put  the mower away; I had to find a couple of screws to hold the forward/reverse plate in place.  They had vibrated out I guess.  Back in good working order now.  Ready for when the grass is green and growing steadily again; at least until the season is over, and the season of Autumn tells it to stop growing.

So no I didn’t finish mowing the yard.  It will be there when the grass gets a little thicker, a little taller, and maybe a little cooler

Watching the grass grow along the banks of Flat Creek.  All things are in the hands of the LORD.

-Tim

Questions, Questions, Questions

The more I know; the more I realize I don’t know. Does that make any sense? I think it does. Anyone who has any real sense realizes that the more we learn the more we realize we need to learn. Am I right?

Questions are usually asked by the questioner for the purpose of learning. How many of us who have children and grandchildren haven’t had one come up to us with one of those questions, and then, always; upon hearing the answer, ask, “Why?” The question that ends all questions. Sometimes there are really odd, and silly questions like, “Why is that car yellow?” The obvious answer to that is “Because they wanted it yellow”, or they bought it that way.

Questions also sometimes spark a debate. Debate is sometimes good. Debates sometimes turn into heated arguments.

I know I am just rambling it seems. “Why?” I am not really sure. I feel like rambling I guess. This is going to be online for the whole cyber world to read. And I really don’t care. I know others feel like this at times. I read some of their blogs and other stuff, so I know. Even politicians; like our President of the USA, rambles on a lot and never says anything meaningful, or constructive. I think I have that right too.

Well! Welcome to Autumn or Fall as we call it often. We are well into the Fall of the year, but around where I live the grass is still green and growing. Farmers are still putting up hay, though it must be a booger to cure for baling.

There is one thing I know and am assured of that God is God. He is Creator of all that is, has been or ever will be; and He has a Son whose name is Jesus who died on a cross for my sins and the world’s sins, was buried, and He rose again. One day He is coming; and to that day I look with great expectation.

Still I want to know more, because the more I know the more I realize I don’t know.

-Tim A. Blankenship