First Snow of the Season

On the afternoon of December 5th we started receiving freezing precipitation in the form of freezing rain, sleet and later turning to snow.  At present (5 a.m. CT) it is still snowing; though, it does seem to have slowed a bit.

Looking out the window in the light from the porch light there appears to be approximately 1 foot of snow.  I measured it  around 7:45 p.m yesterday, and it measured 6 inches.

Snow is a beauty.  It covers all the trash on the ground, hangs on the leaves of the trees giving them an essence of cleanliness, and holiness.  My how our Creator reminds us of Himself; and what He desires from us.

Enjoy the snow.  Pray for those who have to work in it.  Those who need to be on our highways, turnpikes, interstates, and freeways; whether just traveling to work, home; but especially those who labor in the cold of winter, snow is a hazard to their health and life.  That includes those who keep our electric power going, our roads cleared off, and God forbid, dealing with home fires, health needs, etc.  Thank the Lord for all of them.

-tim

First Post Twenty Thirteen

Yeah!  My first post on this blog for 2013.  I have not been much in the mood for writing, if that is what you would call what I do. 🙂

Anyway, let me give you some updates of what has been going on here on the banks of Flat Creek South of Jenkins, Missouri.  On November 30 and December 1 of 2012 I began working on building a back porch on our house.  I finished enough where we could use it with the form fiberglass steps we bought with the house.  The porch, made of treated lumber measures 8 feet by 8 feet.  Not a large porch, but not tiny either.

With cold and freezing setting in for the past few days our driveway has dropped out of sight – a slight over statement of course.  Because of the softness of the soil, even where we had previously placed gravel, the road was sinking, making it difficult to drive the car of a slight grade through the gate.

This morning I went out before anyone else was up, and shoveled a pickup bed half full or so of creek gravel, not from the creek bed, by the way, and hauled it to the driveway, unloaded it where it was sinking the most; and by the time I was finished; I mean I was finished too.  Too bad I do not have a front loader and a dump bed truck to use.  It would make it simpler, and certainly easier.  It sure is good exercise loading gravel though.

Just a side note.  While I was out gathering my tools for the haul there were a couple of eagles soaring overhead, communicating with one another.  I really enjoy hearing their shrill cry, and playful screech with one another.

With all the trouble in the world, and in many of our lives; it is good to know that there are other things which are peaceful.  Those ought to remind us that God is still on the throne; and all things will be worked out for His glory.

-tim

The Demise of Twenty Twelve

It sounds rather glum does it not?  “The demise” that is.  It does however make way for a New Year.

I think most of us like “New” things.  We like new cars, trucks.  New homes.  New clothes.  We especially like new underwear; as opposed to used by someone else anyway. 🙂  Just sayin’  We like things to be NEW.

Well we are all about to start a New Year.  Some places in the world like Australia have already had Midnight December 31, 2012.  For Central Standard Time that hour will not be here until a little under 7 hours from now.

It is a wonderful chance to begin again.  For some that will mean starting new resolutions, new promises, maybe brand new lies.

I pray all will use this “Newness” with wisdom and grace.

I also pray that in the past year that I have learned a bit more wisdom and that I have learned to practice the wise things I have learned.  I pray that I will be more compassionate toward those who need compassion; that I can weep with those who weep; rejoice with those who rejoice; and mourn with and for those who mourn.

The world, according to some was supposed to end in 2012; December 21 at 5:11 or 5:12 a.m.  As we can all see we are still here.  The world, by the way will go on for more years.  I believe I have it on the Highest Authority that it will continue for many more years.

Let us learn to use the time we have; the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, and millenniums as our Creator gives them to us.  I know there is none of us who live a millennium; but if we are in God’s hands, and blessed by Him; our families will continue, and our posterity will continue.  Just a thought.

If we  turn our lives over to the One who was crucified, buried and was raised again to life; we have the promise to live forever.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE.

-tim

Eagle On the Hunt

On the afternoon of December 31 I took a walk along the banks of Flat Creek; from just below the old mill pond down around the bend, and then to the place where our family picnics and swims – the Swimming hole.

It was at the Swimming Hole that I sat down for a spell and just looked, watched, and listened for awhile.  I have enjoyed doing that along the creek since I was a boy old enough to venture away from the house; and maybe even before I was old enough.

As I was setting there a bald eagle came soaring near me over the still water of the hole and I assume was looking for his/her prey for food for the day.  I do not believe I was ever as close to a flying eagle as I was at that moment.  I have seen them in zoos sitting on logs for all the world to gauck at, and admire; but never had I been as close as I was at that time and place; while they were flying.

I watched as she/he soared, flapped wings, turned out over the land on the other side, and back over the water, and then flew on down the creek continuing its search.

A beautiful, majestic, bird.  Yet, “bird” for an eagle just seems so small a word.

Remember to go to church today and worship our Creator who has given us all things to enjoy and glorify His name.

-Tim

By the way… HAPPY NEW YEAR.

The First Snow

On Tuesday December 6 we got our first measurable snow.  It was in fact the first I had seen this season.  By that I mean I had not even noticed a flake or anything until I got up about 2:30 a.m. and noticed in the lights there was a pretty serious amount of snow falling.  It did end up being less than an inch, but it was hazardous.

We had school that day, but I think there were a few of us drivers who were probably thinking, “What are we doing out here?”  I was probably one of them, yet we just did our job, picked up those kids, and brought them into school.

On the way into the bus the road did not seem slick.  Driving was pretty normal.  The snow seemed to be dry and blowing off the road as you drove over it; however it was packing under those wheels,  I guess, and it became a sheet of ice on some roads.

When I pulled out from Wildcat Drive onto Business 37 by the Administration Building my bus went sideways, and into a sign, breaking out the right rear clearance light, and I noticed later a mark on the sign.  I saw one driver in the ditch on his side on Highway 76 East of what is known as Bates Corner.  I rarely am stressed about driving, but this morning was an exception to that.  It is probably a good thing that I was.

Without further incident or accident every bus made it safely back into school with all the children who rode that morning.

Just to note: our people at the school who make the decisions concerning weather conditions do a good job, and this morning was no different; considering the time and conditions.  It was not slick, then it was.  There was many incidents/accidents that morning, but thankfully not many were too serious; that I know of anyway.

Now safe and warm on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

It is Autumn Once Again

It seems to come upon us quickly. Summer is too short to suit me. It could be Summer all year long and I would be happy. I do know some people who are my friends who like Winter weather, so I guess I am probably in a minority concerning Summer.

Autumn does have its beauties, and I can’t be where it is Summer all year round – in fact I don’t know if such a place even exists. On this planet, there are four seasons during the year wherever we may be. If it was Summer all year round though, things might begin to be a bit monotonous. I best be thankful for all four seasons of the year.

Our God and Creator of all things has made our earth, since the fall of man, to have the four seasons; and I think to remind us of lifes circle. Every life has a Spring and that takes place at our birth, then there is Summer, our Autumns, or Falls; whichever you wish to call it; then there is Winter in our lives where life has its end. The end is what not too many people like to deal with, talk about or confront.

There is a question I have always had in my mind. When whoever it was who came up with our present calendar (is it called the Gregorian calendar?), why didn’t he begin the year with the first day of Spring, and end the year with the last day of Winter. That calendar would make a lot more sense; to me anyway. Wouldn’t it make sense for January 1 be the first day of Spring, and December 31 be the last day of Winter?

Anyway here we go toward Winter, then thank the Lord, then Spring and then Summer. Thank the Lord He has designed things so.

-Tim A. Blankenship