It ended with a touching tribute to the armed forces. 

I got the pictures in reverse order.

I just posted a bunch of pictures from Lisa in reverse order. I must be losing it! I had a little consecutive story line going with the captions under the pictures. So you'll have to start at the bottom (where Sophie is looking for someone to play with) and then scoll upward.

Oh, alright, Grandpa. We'll play some golf instead. 

And last we dump the mixture into this other bucket so we can start all over again. 

Then we stir it all together. 

First we fill the bucket with all this stuff. 

Come this way, Grandpa. I'll show you how we do this. 

Hey, Grandpa, wanna play with me? 

Wonder if I could find a playmate somewhere around here? 

Lisa sent this picture which she called, "The couch potato and his little spud!" 

I've got more to learn!

This morning it dawned on me that my camera has a lot more settings than the ones I always use. I decided to get out the manual for the first time ever, and read it. Wow!!! Do I ever feel stupid. I really have some studying to do, but apparently I am not making use of nearly all that this camera is capable of. Maybe I won't need that Nikon D50 after all, Doris Jean!! We shall see.

This afternoon Destiny and I went to visit my dear friend Cheryl Arment. She had bought a cookbook from me and I needed to get it to her. Cheryl used to teach right next door to me and I missed her so very much after she left. She's the one that introduced me to blogging, so since we now both blog, we "talk" almost as often as we used to, just not face to face. (She is "Precious", the one who most often comments on my blog.) It was so good to see her again and to see her lovely gardens, even tho the draught we are having has affected them. Her son Chad is some kind of biologist that specializes in reptiles. He was working at home today and he and Destiny had a conversation going, which gave us ladies a chance to talk without her interruptions. So that was nice.

Dick is having a great time in Florida. He said his incision is healing at a tremendous rate since he's down there. I said, "See, Florida is good for you!" (Hint, hint!) They put a fence around the pool this summer, and Dick said Sophie actually runs laps around it!! Lisa is getting a video ready to send me. I can hardly wait.

Right now I'm getting ready to watch the Fantasia Burrino story on the Lifetime Channel.

Cheryl and I - together in person, for a change! 

Destiny enjoyed a conversation with Cheryl's son Chad while we ladies talked. (Thank you, Chad!) 

There's a snake in that bowl - a very valuable one, according to Chad! 

Cheryl gave me part of a plant. 

The flower arrangement our church sent Dick last week. 

My attempt at a clearer "up close" picture. 

Ministry and music

This morning was a precious time for me at church. The youth worship team led this morning. Six teenagers and one young adult led us so effectively into the presence of the Lord that quite a number of people came front for prayer during worship. I am always incredibly blessed when I see young people using their musical gifts for the Lord, but on top of that, I received prayer ministry for a change. So often as I am leading worship, I long for that chance, and this morning was the chance. As I said, it was a precious time.

After church there was a text message on my cell phone from Dick that he was able to get early boarding. He called around 2:45 to say he had just arrived in Tampa. He had gotten the very front seat where there is extra leg room. I haven't heard from him since, so I guess they're having a good time together down there.

My friend Katie Walton (from church) and her 9-yr.-old son Richard ate lunch with Destiny and I at the Country Kitchen. We had a good time. She said I should tell Dick to go away more often!!

I took a good nap this afternoon, then this evening Destiny and I picked up my friend Yvonne Devosa and her foster daughter Aleah and we went to Long's Park to hear the Count Basie Orchestra. It's a swing jazz orchestra. Destiny and Aleah kept occupied playing games on her cell phone and taking pictures with my camera. Yvonne and I enjoyed the music and watching the dancers and catching up on each others' lives. We're both music teachers, she at Ressurection Catholic in Lancaster, so this was probably our last outing for a while.

I gotta go take the trash to the curb. (I miss you, Dick!!)

Aleah and Destiny. 

Yvonne and I.