Lamenting

 Wrote this in March 2016: Feeling very sad this morning...another attack...another chicken lost...our favorite...she survived multiple attacks in the past...we nursed her back to relatively good health and enjoyed her for a few months...we could pet her...she cared for our two youngsters...and now she is gone. Charlie built a fortress with much thought and time and energy spent. "there is NO WAY a predator can get in" we said. Yesterday morning, while I was out working in the back a larger animal with much strength pulled up the bottom of the fence. Last night we saw the evidence of its strength. Didn't sleep well last night...first thought for me this morning was "why didn't I go down and check on them yesterday morning when I heard them making noise?" False security..."there is NO WAY a predator can get in" They are just chasing each other. So, this morning during my quiet time, which I begin with writing in my gratitude book, I said, "I don't feel any gratitude this morning...I need to read from the Psalms"...and this is what I read "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doings; I muse on the work of Thy hands. I stretch out my hands to Thee; My soul longs for Thee as a parched land." Next to it some time this past year, I had written in pen the word "gratitude". Hmmm Even my sweet chicken is teaching me...but I am still struggling with this.

Challenging My Brain

I enjoy keeping unofficial scores for Landon's Little League games.  I have a clipboard with VERY limited data that I write.  It keeps me focused on the game.  Then, I told Charlie I wanted an official score keeper's book.  He got me one and OH MY!  The data that can be kept made my eyes cross!  Without making any marks I closed it and said "Take this back and get your money back"  Charlie said "No".  He wants me to work with it day in and day out and learn the details of score keeping.  WHAT A CHALLENGE TO MY MIND!  This will be a slow process but the challenge is so good.  So, here I go 3-2-2019.  I'll post my progress.

Abortion

Letter to my U.S. Senator:

Senator Feinstein,  It is disgraceful to see your name on the list of U.S. Senators who will not support the born-alive abortion survivors protection act.  I know you are a grandmother as I am.  I'm hearing stories like Tim Tebow's that speak loud and clear against abortion.  I want to appeal to your humanity and relationship to Almighty God.  PLEASE rethink your position on this Right-to-life issue. Surely you know, as I do, we each will stand before our Creator and be held accountable for our actions here on earth.  He is the giver and taker of life.

Memorizing God's Word

This is an email I sent to my sisters in faith at TOC:

Dear Hearts

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14  "Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee."  These two verses speak of a healthy spirit. I want this to be true in my life.  But wanting is the easiest part...doing is harder.  If you feel the same way, read on ---

*  I need a memorizing method.

*  If I make it too difficult, I will give up before I begin

*  Gini, begin with easy to memorize verses, and verses that have special meaning in your life.

   ex.  I am often anxious - Psalm 27:1 answers this. "The Lord is my light & my salvation.  

   Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life. Whom shall I dread?  Members of my

   family have favorite verses.  I often memorize these.  Here are two more special to me: John

  14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives I give to you.  Let

   not your heart be troubled. Nor let it be fearful." and Psalm 94:19  "When my anxious

   thoughts multiply within me, thy consolations delight my soul"

*  How do I relate to God.  Do I think of Him as personal? Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a  

   lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."  majestic? Proverbs 21:30 "There is no

   wisdom, no understanding and no counsel against the Lord."

*  My method - 3x5 cards easy to carry with me.  When I write it, I try to write it in easy to

   memorize phrases.  Ex Galations 5:22, 23

   "The fruit of the spirit is

    love, joy, peace

    patience, kindness, goodness

    faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

    Against such things there is no law."

    It is easy for me to remember when I can visualize 3 groups of 3.  There are 9.  I work on

    each and add it to the next when I am comfortable with it.

*   Last, choose a translation you are comfortable with.  A paraphrase can be good for helping

    to understand difficult passages and can be good for sharing with unbelievers. 

    Ex.  Ephesians 3:20 NAS  "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding, abundantly, beyond all

    that we ask or think according to the power within."  Here it is in The Message: "God can do

    anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your

    wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit

    deeply and gently within us."  I prefer the NAS because I'm not a real fan of modern...but it

    has its place.

So, there you have it!  Gini's recipe for memorizing His Word to keep your spirit healthy.

                                                      To your good health - cheers!  Gini

GENESIS STUDY

                                     GENESIS STUDY

Reading the creation account, when done slowly and intentionally brings awe and wonder about our GREAT CREATOR - GOD

As this new year begins, 2019, with all its tragedy and darkness, I want to remember the words in Genesis 1 regarding the Spirit of God hovering over the formless and void earth.  We now have form - round and blue and we are no longer void of life.  But we are quickly and deliberately turning away from the Creator of all life.  I want to take this blog and worship and praise God...only God, creator of all.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Feeling lost

 I wrote the following on Facebook when I was 71...My negative feelings about driving has increased


Gini Walker I am 71 years old. I don't suffer from dementia but I do have an issue with directions (North, South, East, West, left and right.) I've had this all my life. As an educator, my mother used to tell me that my lack of crawling as a baby had an affect on my learning. Who knows. But as I have read some posts here, I realize there are unlabeled issues some of us have. Struggling with directions has been frightening and frustrating for me. Before Charlie and I married, one time I was to pick him up at LAX. I ended up in Costa Mesa. Even as recently as this year, I got so lost and had NO idea which way home was. When I leave an office, trying to figure out if I go left or right to exit the building is more challenging than I ever reveal. Driving is something I dislike very much. So, unless I am going some where close or some where I've frequently driven to, I can't go. I think about friends and loved ones with dementia and it seems they have totally lost their way in their mind. This causes me great sadness. It is so frightening to be lost. 

Stress related to needs of seniors

Our friend Per Larssen moved into Town and Country this past weekend.  It was difficult for Charlie to get him convinced to do it.

I read the following deeply stress filled remarks on Facebook about someone dealing with their aged mother--- "So many thoughts right now, so many decisions to make, so many changes, so much stress, what happens next? One niece flew in Saturday to see my mother (her grandmother) then flew back to Oregon in the evening. Another niece (a great granddaughter) drove from Monterey last night and is heading back home right now. She was asking me questions that i don't want to answer, or decisions I'm not ready to face right now. But things I know I should be considering. Home for a few minutes before heading back to the hospital. They plan to move her (my mother) to an rehab/extended care facility tomorrow. A decision I must make as to where..."

We are deeply grateful to God for His guidance and help in Per's move.