Warning: Controversial Subject

For the most part, I try to keep upbeat. Sometimes, I fail at this attempt. Recently, I have found that it is more of a struggle with some of the ideas in our world. I am utterly devastated and appalled at the views on abortion. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that in my lifetime they would be stating that killing another human being is a right…that they label it not as killing another human being, but women’s reproductive health. What is healthy about damaging a woman by the devastating physical and emotional procedure of exterminating a living being? The procedure itself is pretty barbaric. Sucking the baby out, or dismantling the baby to sell the parts. Some claim that it is not a baby yet. I believe that life begins at conception. According to even an older medical encyclopedia that has a copyright of 1965, claims that development at the end of the first month (way before you realize you are pregnant), the brain, heart, liver and spine are already developed. I am sure that at this date, they are more aware of earlier development.

When did we become a nation that sold human body parts for profit? This is a midterm election year and a lot of politicians are using this issue as part of their campaign. I just can’t believe it!! “Vote for me! I’m all for killing babies for profit.” Of course, they don’t say that…no one would vote for them then. Killing babies is big business. Planned Parenthood, should really be called Planned Un-parenthood, because that’s where they get their money and lots of politicians are backed by Planned Parenthood. Would they push so hard for abortion if they weren’t getting donations from Planned Parenthood?

Our state will have the debate of abortion on the ballot this November. People are being brain-washed into thinking it’s a good idea and it will probably pass. The devastation of this being written in the Constitution will make it irreversible. This, if passed, would be the most extreme in all the world. It would allow termination of babies after birth, during birth. It would allow minors to be sterilized, get puberty blockers and sex change surgery without parental consent or knowledge. Part of the wording of this proposal states that it would “allow the state to regulate abortion in some cases”. So, if a parent didn’t want their child to have an abortion, and the state wanted to give them one. You would not have a choice, your child would not have a choice. This does not sound like freedom to me. It also states that this proposal on the ballot would” Allow state to regulate abortion after fetal viability“. I had to look up fetal viability and this is what I discovered: “Fetal viability is the ability of a human fetus to survive outside the uterus.” So, this proposal is saying that even if a baby can survive outside the uterus, it would be up to the state whether that baby lives or dies. This seems pretty barbaric to me. Seems rather holocaustic. Even if you are pro-abortion, this proposal seems way too extreme. When you give the state the right to determine who lives or dies.

Of course their are no pat answers for things that happen in our world, but… could it be that the mindset of it’s “okay” to abort a baby and not have a reverence for life, has caused a lot of these shootings? If we don’t consider life the most valuable thing there is, what does that say about us?

I realize this is a downer post. It is just something that I am struggling with. As a disclaimer: These are my thoughts and everyone has them.

So Good

God is so good to us! We are so lucky to have a God that cares and gives us so many blessings! Yesterday, we went fishing. God provided so much for us. The beauty of Northern Michigan, fish and vegetables to sustain.

A couple years ago, it was so hard to get canning lids. I purchased some online and they have not proved to be good quality. Last night, while processing tomatoes, I was removing a jar that had one of those lids. When I placed it on the counter, the lid blew off!! 😳 Boiling tomatoes came out of that jar with such force!! All over the counter, walls, appliances, floor and unfortunately, on my hand and lower arm. I immediately rinsed off the tomatoes with cold water and applied lavender oil. I kept a bag of frozen corn on it for awhile. It was quite painful. This morning, the pain is gone and I have just a few areas where I missed putting lavender oil on that have blistered. I am so thankful that I had lavender oil on hand. Lucky!!!

Despite this mishap, I feel so lucky and blessed for God’s provision and that I didn’t have my face down there!

One thing I find interesting, is that I never felt I had anything in common with my grandmother. This year, as I ponder things… I find that we do have some similarities.

When I was 10 years old, my grandmother slipped on a rug and fell into her bathroom. Our dog, “Lucky” snuggled up to her all night keeping her warm in the old farm house. In the morning, she crawled across the large farmhouse kitchen and pulled herself up the refrigerator where the phone was kept on top to call us for help. She had broken her hip. Similarly, when I fell in our driveway, I crawled to our shed and pulled myself up the upright freezer and I also had broken my hip.

My grandmother always had a brown spot on her cheek. When asked about it, she claimed that a pressure cooker blew up in her face while canning. Her face was burned but she applied a Swedish liniment that she called Pitsi and the brown spot was an area that she had missed. Hmm. Similar! In any case, we have much to be thankful for.

Leonard likes to “scrap”. Due to the fact that I am more of a “I’m sure you can find a use for that” person. It is a bit of an annoyance to me, as we travel around the area, he is always scouring the side of the road for items to take apart. Yet,as God’s hand is on us through it all, we have “lucky” moments of blessing. This last week for example, there were appliances on the side of the road. Of course, these were too large to fit in our little SUV, so with that in mind, Leonard headed home in record speed to get our pickup. He found me some gloves, so that I could help him. This caused me much anxiety as I talked to the Lord silently. Is it long enough after my surgery to be lifting such items? Lord, this is not what I had in mind today. We pulled up to the appliances on the side of the road and as I was putting the gloves on…a man, came driving up and asked if he could have the kitchen range. He said his mother-in-law’s had broken. He called his mother-in-law, and it seems that she had already bought a new one. Even so, this man offered to help Leonard load the appliances! What? Really? Thank you, Lord for orchestrating this man to come to my rescue. A positive side of scrapping occurred on Labor Day. We were on a leisurely Monday drive and one of the summer residents was putting out some patio chairs and a patio umbrella (our current umbrella was broken). This time, it was a “good find” and not something to be taken apart. I am thankful to the Lord for His provision.

Leonard with the “new” umbrella and patio chairs. He’s pretty excited!

Another “lucky” fishing adventure.

My long-time friend, Chris asked myself and seven other ladies to do a study of this book

Our conversations were only via group text messaging. I only knew my friend and another friend that participated. This last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting three of those ladies for a picnic at one of their beautiful homes. I feel so lucky to have met these women and the opportunity to visit with my two long time friends. It was so enjoyable.

Another blessing that I find interesting is that Leonard will on occasion, pick some wildflowers and put them in a vase. He knows that I like daisies. Even though, these are not daisies, they put you in mind of them.

As I notice God’s blessings everyday, I will always claim that.. We certainly are the Lucky Ones!

Moments in Time

Some moments in time to bring joy to my heart. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of some enjoyable moments, from nature…

To family and friends…

To my daughter sharing this pic of this car with me because I like Smiley Faces.

Yes, we are the lucky ones to have friends, family and beautiful landscapes to enjoy!

Another Ladies Day

One of our after Bible Study adventures included visiting Horton Bay General Store, Red Fox bookstore and Lavender Hill farm.

Last week, we enjoyed a picnic at Magnus Park. It is so beautiful there. We stopped to take pics of this guy who was out enjoying our magnificent weather.Followed by a lingering visit to Sturgeon River Pottery. A visit to Alpine Chocolate for ice cream ended this excursion.

Who Would Have Thought

Who would have thought that in my elder years that I would become a fisherwoman??? !!! And yet, that seems to be what I have become.

God provides! Leonard has been title-ing me, “The Perch Whisperer”.That is so funny! Yes, we continue to be the Lucky Ones!

Other Ladies

My sister-in-law invited me to go to a Bible Study that meets every Thursday. I have gone for 3 weeks now.

These ladies are from all different denominations. It has been very informative and thought provoking.

After the first one that I went to, my sister-in-law said that some of them were going out to lunch after and asked me to join. I declined. The second week, a group of ladies were having a picnic on one of the gal’s pontoon. I accepted this offer and had a most relaxing day with some truly beautiful ladies and an awesome pontoon ride on Torch Lake!

This week, there were only 3 of us. We had lunch at “Toonie’s” in Bellaire, went to an art gallery where one of the gals from Bible study displays her artwork. She’s a magnificent artist. The gallery was called “Mr. Pin”. From there, we went to Grass River Natural area, then back to “Ruthie’s” in Bellaire for an ice cream cone! What a nice day!

I am one of the “lucky ones”