Happy morning to you

I read and re-read the Moravian prayer for this morning (below). Then I determine to rejoice in the Lord and to live as a good alien in a foreign land.

Small and wonderful pleasures along the way:

• I love the smell of lavender crushed in my palm, plucked from a plant overhanging the sidewalk.
• There was no rain on our walk. No sun, but no rain either. Thank you, God!
•  Our friend, in surgery today, will soon be breathing easier and walking better.
• The dogs trotted along nicely, dragging the leash. They're freshly groomed and their hair is soft.
• Those ghastly drifts of maple leaves making the roadsides a slippery mess will soon be raked away or dissolve into mulch.
• The apple plucked from the tree along our driveway was crisp and cold. Pure delicious-ness.
• Yesterday's wind played a rowdy tug-of-war with the trees but some leaves proved tenacious and are still waving their goodbyes.
• A smoky bitter lapsang suchong refreshes me with its darkness.

And an enormous pleasure:

• They're done with presidential elections for 2 years.

Read more:
*The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 1 Samuel 2:4

*Paul wrote: I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Moravian Prayer: Almighty God, we are strong when our strength comes from you. Help us in moments of weakness to remember that we can call on you and all that works against you shall be broken while we will be made whole. Amen.

Been a while!

My toes are cold! Socks, please. Forget the flip-flops, we're back to cool-weather wear! YUCK.


It's been a while since I did any writing besides PhD research and tutorials. W and I just got from a week in Springfield, MO, where it was a pleasant 85-95 with high humidity every day. Love it love it love it. I sat on the porch overlooking the lake at J and C's cabin, studying and writing in the warmth. Basking. What a great memory. Thanks, you guys!


We got in last night at 2,30am, too tired to notice anything but the dark. For this morning's walk, I pulled a light coat and a head band on over an undershirt and t-shirt. The sky's overcast heralds a wet or perhaps just gloomy day.


Some people say they love this climate. They swear they really do. I know them, and they are not liars. But it staggers the mind, to think that grey and cool qualify for "Love it!" anywhere but on the hide of a sea lion or the flank of a mountain.

I enjoy the green, tall trees. I love the 3 weeks of summer (when we usually are elsewhere, traveling). I really enjoy our house and the quiet woods on our property. And I love being near family.


This morning, that's just enough to keep me from fleeing Seattle. Thanks be to God.


Read more:
*Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.


“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.


"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, But water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:6-12 NKJV