New School Year

The new School Year began in Cassville, MO on August 17.  I also started driving a different route.

I now drive the Jenkins route, and though I am pretty familiar with the area, since I do live in the Jenkins area, I am finding myself having a bit of trouble with some names of my kids.  Remembering their names.

As it is in most communities people move away, and new people move in.  There are only  about three families I am I am familiar with from my years of living here growing up.  One family is cousins, another is nephews, and another is a native of the area.  I just remembered a fourth family, and they are distant relatives.

One thing about it; I will not get lost.

I hope all who are reading this have a great new School year, and great days ahead.

From the banks of Flat Creek.

~tim

Flat Creek Has Been Rolling Heavy

We have received 9 – 10 inches of rain from Saturday night through Monday evening.  At last look at my bucket it had about 9 inches in it and we received a bit more after that.

I am including some pictures.  The Creek has gotten as high as I ever remember, and it got higher than any of the past five years we have lived here for sure.

These pictures are in our backyard.

 

The following pictures are down stream at our swimming area, and called the Whirlhole, and the road down to the hole.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1

That is how it is on the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

In the Year of Twenty Fourteen

Just praying all have a wonderful, blessed, and Happy, Happy, Happy New Year.  From the  banks of Flat Creek, the old site of the Ole Blankenship Mill near Jenkins, Missouri.

-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

Second Anniversary

Just to get right to the point.  Today marks the second anniversary of my wife Madge and I moving into our new home.  We are still enjoying the home with which the Lord of all has blessed us.  The Creek is still rolling by, though this past Summer with the extreme high temps, and the drought caused it to drop considerably; and with recent rainfall it has now risen much above drought conditions.

The other day I went and cut some cedar logs for the “legs” for a back porch on the house.  I am planning on building a porch which measures 8 feet by 8 feet.  That will give us a fairly large porch in the back in order to have more room for the door the swing open, and to sit out back on the porch; if we choose to do so.

Thank you LORD for Your many blessings; and today for our home.

-tim

One Bad Thing…

…About having an inside thermometer for the outside is that you notice how hot it is outside.  I guess in the Winter you notice how cold it is; but to some “Cold” sounds pretty good right now.  I looked a moment ago, and the temp here at our house on Flat Creek, South of Jenkins, MO is 108 degrees.

I told Madge [my wife] just a while ago that I think this has got to be the hottest spot in the State of Missouri.  I do not know of anyone around who is ever as hot as we get.  Hey though.  I really do not mind the heat, as long as I can get cool.

I water the trees and flowers early of the morning just before, or as the sun is rising over the hill in the East.  It is warm at that time, and I usually come in the house rolling with sweat.  It tickles me blue to be able to do those things.  For a few mornings I have taken my new truck, gone to the gravel, shoveled what I would approximate to be about 1000 pounds of gravel into my truck and hauled it to the house; or as I did yesterday; up the road and filled some holes in the road; hopefully for a better ride down the road.  I did that before the heat got too much for me to bear.

It is great to be able to go outdoors, enjoy the weather.  One bad thing about this  time of year is for those fellows and gals who must work out in it.  My heart and prayers go out to you.  I say to you drink plenty of water and juices; without alcohol or caffeine; or it could dehydrate you.

One bad thing is that Winter is on the way.  On second thought; would that be so bad; at least right now?

-tim

 

The Day Ahead

My day ahead of me is planned to be spent finishing mowing the yard.  I will be mowing the back yard; if it doesn’t rain.  I don’t think it is supposed to.  It will take me three or four hours probably.  It took me most of the morning and into the afternoon yesterday to mow the front.

I will also be preparing for Sunday morning and evening at Carr Lane Baptist Church.  I always look forward to being with the kind, gracious and loving people of our church.  I also look forward to preaching the gospel of Jesus
Christ and the whole counsel of God from His Word.

It has been hot again.  The temp yesterday got up to 100 and possibly plus that some.  I have enjoyed the cooler temps the past few days; and the rainfall has given me grass to mow.  Thank YOU Lord.

I am thankful for the rest I receive during my sleep time.  I went to bed last night earlier than I have in a long time.  It was 8:30 when I told my wife, “I think I am going to lay down, and maybe get up later.”  It was later.  At 3:30 this morning I arose from bed rested and ready for my time with the Lord.

Thanks you to everyone who has prayed for my Dad.  He is home now.  Prayers are still needed.

From the banks of Flat Creek near Jenkins, Missouri I’m…

-Tim

A Family Sunday

Most of our kids and grand kids are still with us.  They are, in fact, still in bed sleeping.  They will need to be arising soon to get themselves ready for Sunday School and worship.

We are all attending Shiloah Baptist Church.  Shiloah is the Baptist church I grew up in.  I was saved there, baptized in Flat Creek at the old Jenkins bridge in 1966.  On the Sunday I was saved, my sister Jane was as well; as well as several other.  Otis Ennis was our pastor at the time, and he baptized us the following Sunday.

My wife and I attended Shiloah when we first married.  I surrendered to preach the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ while we were attending.  From July 1987 – November 1990 I was their pastor.

The current Pastor is David Eaton, Jr.  He is my brother in law; and the son of the man who was my pastor when I surrendered to preach.

I always look forward to the times I can go and hear good preaching.  Preachers who preach the Word of God are becoming rare; though I know there are many who still do.  Too many will compromise the Word to keep  the masses happy rather than caring about keeping God happy.

So much for that.  Things appear to be quiet outside.  No dogs are barking, yet.  No cattle are in the yard, yet.  However the time is drawing nearer to the time for the family to arise and begin getting ready to hear the Word of God and worship.

-Tim