The Best Is Yet to Come

This morning, while reading my email, a friend shared a thought that prompted this post. 
Often, in conversation, you may hear someone say "those were the good old days" or "those were the best days of my life".  I've heard these phrases, and I've said them.  But, I don't believe that!  Really, I don't. 
Here's what my friend said at the close of her email:

If you think your best days are behind you, they are.  If you think your best days are ahead of you, they are. ---C. Drost

Certainly, my life has been blessed, and the years to date have been wonderful.  Life has indeed been good.  I've enjoyed many wonderful times.  And I am thankful!  However, I believe the best days are yet to come!
Due to the fact that I need to get to work on time this morning, I can't explain my reason for believing the best is ahead.  So, I ask you....  Are your best days past, or do you believe the best is ahead of you?
Comments are welcome, and encouraged!

This Is For the Birds

I'm a bird watcher ♪♫
I'm a bird watcher ♫♪♫
Watchin' birds fly by ♫♪♫
My, my, my ♪♫....
Here comes one now ♪♫♪♫♪ 
From the time I was a little kid, I've enjoyed watching birds.  I remember Dad making huge feeding areas right outside our picture window.  Dad could also identify many birds by their song, and would point them out to us. The only birds I really don't care for are common house sparrows and starlings, both imported, if what I've read is true. Another imported nuisance, multi-flora rose!  But, I digress.
I feed the birds all year, but they're easier to shoot (photograph) when the trees and shrubs have no foliage.
So, here are a few of my feathered friends:

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Cardinal

Bluejay is quite the "ham"

Downy Woodpecker

Chickadee sneaking in to get a bite before the Red Bellied Woodpecker chases him off

Bluejay and Red Bellied Woodpecker

White Breasted Nuthatch

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Bluejay

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Cardinals

Common Flicker

Tufted Titmouse.  Wind is ruffling his feathers!

Tufted Titmouse

Common Flicker

Eagles! Did You Know...?

I enjoy watching the eagle population in the Tri-State area throughout the winter months.  I find them fascinating to watch, and challenging to photograph!  This year we've seen a higher population of the Bald Eagles, probably due to that polar vortex.  They can fish the Mississippi River at Keokuk on even the coldest of days because we heat the water, compliments of Union Electric!  If you're reading this and aren't a local, you might think I'm joking, but it is a fact.  The UE plant runs river water through huge turbines, and expels that water back into the river all warmed up.  I'm sure it's much more complicated, and if you're really interested in finding out how that works, you can contact David Grimes on Facebook. He can explain it thoroughly! 
Yesterday, I took my camera along as I went to work over in Hamilton.  Coming back, I stopped off to shoot some eagles.  Photo shots, of course!  I didn't get any outstanding pictures, so I'll try again someday soon.  My two favorite pictures of the day were a group of young eagles fighting over a catch, causing the one with the fish to actually drop it, and one of an adult flying with a fish in its beak.  Neither are quality photographs, but I share them because I like them.

I don't know if this eagle caught the fish, or took it from another eagle. 

Two adults watch the immature fight over a fish, which is lost when the one in possession of the fish dropped it back into the river.  The falling fish is the little dot just below the young eagles.

Did you know that the bald eagle is found only in North America?  Did you know that the term "bald" has nothing to do with a lack of feathers? It refers to the sharp distinction of the white head and tail with the dark body. Did you know that the eagle's broad, strong wings enable it to carry objects nearly its own weight?  Did you know that an eagle's primary feathers are designed so that when storms approach, the eagle is able to fly much higher than it would during normal conditions?  Did you know that an eagle can spot a quarter at over 200 yards?  Did you know that it's possible for a fish to drown an eagle?
Well, you probably already knew all that, and more.  It's time for me to move on.  Heading off to pick on a pile of frozen dirt for a while!

Happy New Year!

The past year has been an eventful one!  As I reflect back over the past twelve months, I can't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude.  We have been so blessed, not only throughout 2013, but throughout my entire life! God is so good, and I am so thankful for the abundance of His love, mercy, grace, and for His unchanging, unending faithfulness!  As long as I have breath, I will praise Him!  ♫♪ ♪♫
It's risky to "list" the blessing of 2013, for I know I can't list them all.  However, these are some of the ones from right off the top of my head.

• Our first ever cruise!  We visited Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel and spent almost a week aboard the Navigator of the Seas!  Loved every minute!
• Kathy B. Schulte....after a long and courageous battle with cancer, she went to be with Jesus on April 13.  We miss her, but rejoice knowing that she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  Her pain and suffering here is over.  Through it all she continued to say, " God has been good to me.  If he heals me, or if he calls me home, either way...He's good" .  
• Dennis started treating an infection in March that caused him to be hospitalized several times during the year.  He was on antibiotics most of the year, and in the end, it turned out that the infection was in the bone, and the recommended treatment was amputation.  He had his left leg amputated below the knee on November 21.  Literally hundreds of people have been, and are praying for Dennis' complete recovery.  He's progressing extremely well, and throughout the whole process we've had peace, and assurance that God is taking care of him.  We've not really had any anxiety, fear or discouragement.  Everything has gone well, for which we are so thankful!
• We had a great family/friend vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks!  What a fun week!
• We were "introduced" to Cowboy Action Shooting, and are gearing up to participate in some shooting events.  At this time, I'm trying to come up with my "costume", as all SASS Cowboy shooters must be attired in appropriate period clothing.  I have some ideas, and plan to attempt to make my own outfit.
• Our dear friend, Frances Pickering, went to be with the Lord this past year also.  Dennis met Frances back in the late 60's when she so generously extended hospitality to him while he was a patient of the VA hospital in Denver.  We kept in touch with Frances throughout the years, visiting several times, and writing back and forth frequently.  She was a very special person, and we miss her ...and the newsy and cheerful letters she would send.  But, we know she was ready to go.  We were blessed to have known her.  
• The first ever Aquanaut reunion!  What a fun time with friends we'd not seen in many years!  

 This year, I have a little golden box, and lots of blank cards.  We're going to have a "Blessing Box".  We'll write a little note when something happens, and then (provided we're still able) next New Year's Day morning, Dennis and I will read all the cards we've put in the box.  I think it will be fun!
I know there are many more wonderful things I could list, but time has slipped away, and I have to get ready to go meet Travis!
So, Happy New Year to all (all three) of my readers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I woke up this morning, feeling rested, blessed and thankful!  It would be impossible to list all the things for which I am thankful.  However, I will name just a few.
I'm thankful for my husband.  Back in 1970, when we met and started dating, I thought he was pretty great.  But, I now realize that I had little to do with "picking a winner" for a husband!  God has brought us through these past 42+ years and blessed us abundantly beyond all that we could have thought to ask or even imagine.  God has made Dennis the man he is today, and I am thankful!
I'm thankful for our sons, their wives, and our grandchildren...even great grandchildren!  I've always thought our boys were the best boys on the planet (still do), and at one time thought there would never be a girl good enough for them. But, I was wrong! I'm so thankful for the "girls" God brought into our lives through our sons!  They've been a real blessing and joy!  We love our daughters!
I'm thankful for my parents.  Mom and Dad were and continue to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.  They showed me the way to live by walking in righteousness themselves.  They taught me right from wrong.  They taught me to enjoy work, respect others, share, sing, and love.  My understanding for God's unconditional and constant love is largely due to the way my parents loved me! They taught me just about everything I know!
I'm thankful for my siblings.  They too have taught me a lot!  I love each of them dearly, and I know that if ever I need help in any way, I can count on them! 
I'm thankful for friends.  We have many that I consider "forever" friends.  Even if time and distance separates us, the bond remains.  If you're one of those, you know who you are!  Friends are a blessing.  I'm thankful for all my friends!
I'm thankful for my home.  I love our house, I love where our house is located, and just everything about it. 
I'm thankful for excellent health!  What a tremendous blessing to be at my age and  enjoy good health!
I'm thankful for reliable transportation.  I'm thankful for work, and opportunities to work.  I'm thankful for songbirds.  I'm thankful for eyesight, for the ability to hear, for the sense of smell. I'm thankful that I am able to taste things. 
I'm thankful for all my stuff! Even though I have more than I can stuff away, I am thankful and I'm thankful that I can take a lot of my stuff and give it away to bring pleasure to someone else who doesn't have stuff!
As I stated earlier, it is impossible to list all for which I am thankful.  Most of all, I am thankful for God, who was, and is, and is to come, who created all that is with a word, who is truth, life, light, and love.  I'm thankful for God's constant mercy and grace. I'm thankful for God, who gave His own beloved Son, so that I am reconciled....redeemed...forgiven. Indeed, I am thankful!

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth!

Worship the Lord with gladness!

Come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His.

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

And His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, and bless His name

For the Lord is good.

His love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues to all generations!

Psalm 100

Stuff, Stuffed, and Stuffing

I have stuff. Nearly everyone has stuff, I guess.  In my case, I have more stuff than I can stuff into the space available. I've stuffed stuff into closets, into cabinets, into boxes, totes, and bags.  Every available space is stuffed with stuff, and I just keep stuffing.  What is all this stuff?  How have I acquired all this stuff? Why do I keep this stuff? What will I ever do with this stuff? A lot of this stuff has to go!  I don't need most of the stuff I've stuffed away all over our over-stuffed house.  Beginning now, I'm going to start stuffing stuff into a truck and share stuff with someone who doesn't have enough stuff!  So, if you want stuff, I'll give you some stuff.  I'm "cleaning house", and stuff is moving out! Unloading stuff ... clearing the clutter!  Stuff out Saturday, November 30. 

Where you stand depends on where you sit.

This morning, I was reading some of my mail and one line really caught my attention.  "As the saying goes, where you stand depends on where you sit."   Immediately my mind went to Psalm 1 which says:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so; but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. --- Psalm 1 (ESV)

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus begins with Sitting At the Feet of Jesus.  I want to deliberately sit in His presence, delighting and meditating on the law of the Lord.  Music helps me do that!  For whatever reason, songs stay in my mind.  I think if the entire Bible were put to music, I could memorize and sing the whole thing.  Many of the Scriptures that are in my memory are there because they have been set to music, so I can sing them.  So, back to the main point... I need to make sure I'm sitting where I want to stand!

Well, that's my "sermon" (to myself) for today.

Last spring, Dennis was suffering some problems with what was thought to be cellulitis in his lower left leg.  The initial treatment seemed to improve the situation, but after a few weeks it got worse.  He was admitted to the hospital, treated with IV antibiotics, and sent home with oral medication to continue.  Again, he improved, but again it came back.  Long story short, he continued through summer to have the same type of problems, so in October a biopsy was done and we learned that he had bone infection.  Treatment options were lifelong medication or below the knee amputation.  He decided that amputation would be the better choice (it was the recommendation of the doctors as well) and on November 21, he had a below the knee amputation.  He's doing very well, and is coming home today.  He says he plans to be running on his prosthetic leg by Christmas! 

The Dysart Family concert went well.  We didn't fill the building by any means, but we had a nice turn out.
Lots of people I didn't know were there, as well as many that I've not seen in a very long time.  It was a fun evening.

October Update

Harvest time! I'm not up on how the yields are on the row crops, but we certainly have a bumper crop of hickory nuts and walnuts!  Even though we had an extended dry spell, there is a harvest.  I can't help thinking of the verses from Habakkuk.

     "Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive  should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my  strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places." Hab. 3:17-19

I'm not a scholar, and the verse within the context has much more to it than this, but to me, my personal paraphrase is that regardless of how bad things seem to be, I will trust God and continually rejoice in His goodness and faithfulness.

On that note, I invite anyone reading this to join me for an uplifting time of joyful praise and worship with the Dysart Family.  They're going to be in concert at New Testament Christian Church on Nov. 22.  7:00 PM

I know of two other opportunities to hear Southern Gospel groups in the area.  Brian Free and Assurance will be in Augusta IL on November 8, 2013.  The Lester's will be in Keokuk on November 9, 2013.  

  

NQC Was Great!!!

I couldn't possibly tell every detail about our Louisville trip...because Bobbie, Janie and I agreed that what happens in Louisville stays in Louisville.  (Kidding, of course!)
We left home promptly at 6 AM Wednesday.  First stop was Cracker Barrel at the 9 mile marker east of St. Louis. We had a splendid breakfast, and were on the road again, making good time.  We played the ABC game, which turned out to be quite challenging and more fun than expected.  Arrived in Louisville by 2 PM.
Wednesday night was all male quartet groups, and all very good.  Instead of paying to park, we took the Crowne Plaza shuttle over to Freedom Hall.  We walked back since it was only a couple blocks and there were people lined up waiting for the shuttle. We figured we could walk faster than the shuttle going through all the traffic anyway. And, in fact, we did.
The video clip shows about three minutes worth of some of the "memorable moments" from the stage.
 

Highlights from NQC 2013

We laughed at Dennis "Swan" Swanberg, and enjoyed the Gaither Vocal Band, Gatlin Brothers and Booth Brothers on stage together.  Larry, Steve and Rudy sounded as good as ever! We attended the Red Book Sing-a-long, although we were late, missing the first half.  Hearing thousands of people singing together in harmony was beautiful.  I loved the "Parade of Pianos", which is actually more a parade of piano players.  We heard some incredibly talented pianists! One of the most impressive was a 14 year old boy!
We were thrilled to see the Booth Brothers win lots of awards....again!  (Song of the year, Best lead singer, Best baritone, Favorite Group...) We figured David Phelps would get Best tenor, and we were right.
As we traveled home, we got our "Red Book Hymnals" out of the bags and started singing together.  It made the trip quick, and we had so much fun we decided that we'll continue singing together at home! As incredibly unbelievable as it seems, I got the high part!  Who would have guessed?  Anyway, it was a great trip, a very inspirational convention, lots of fun, and memory making moments!  Watch for more news about the new ladies' trio being formed....We'll be sure to let you know as soon as we're available for bookings! LOL!

Countdown!!!

It's almost time.  In ten short days, I'll be headed to Louisville for another Quartet Convention.  This is a special one, as NQC is moving to Pigeon Forge in 2014.  I'm very excited.  In addition to the main stage performances each night, I'll be seeing (hearing) the Gaither Vocal Band with the Gatlin Brothers and the Booth Brothers all performing together!  I'll also enjoy the Parade of Pianos competition, hosted by Gordon Mote and Gerald Wolfe, and Singing News Fan Awards and much more. It's going to be a great time!

I will be right there!

I just heard yesterday that the Original Couriers will make an appearance on the main stage one night.  I'm hoping they will sing "Next Time I Get Married".  Listen and enjoy.  I love the truth and the humor of the song!