Tucson: settling in

We have just returned from our short jaunt to Tucson, and were blessed by being with Tim and Nikki as they began settling in to their new home.
There is, of course, computer equipment galore since this is Tim's house (note the four, yes 4! monitors, all working...) We trimmed up the trees, front and back. Below is a view of the back patio from the back-yard's back wall.

Nikki is already making it feel like home. The formerly black kitchen walls are now a cheery green, and she is a wonderful cook there. She is such a blessing to our family!

Tim and Dave did some repair work on the drip-sprinkler system, balanced fans, made shelves for the garage, and we all ran several errands hunting for needed items. It was productive time, and fun as well.

I know their new home will be a blessing to many!

Hi-ho, Hi-ho, to Tuscon we do go...

Tomorrow my best friend and I are flying to Tucson to visit our baby boy and his best girl. I can't wait for our little adventure, and to see Tim and Nikki's new home. We'll be helping them settle in, and also enjoying each other. I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures to share when we get home. I may check in from there, Gentle Reader, but if not, I will be back next week, and beg your patience as I give full attention to family for a few days. What a blessing!

Sundays with Jean

Yet what Augustine writes is nonetheless true: that all whoa re estranged from the religion of the one God, however admirable they may be regarded on account of their reputation for virtue, not only deserve no reward, but rather punishment, because by the pollution of their hearts they defile God's works...
~J. Calvin, Institutes, III.14.3

In agreement with this idea is the statement of Augustine's: "Our religion distinguishes the just from the unjust not by the law of works but by that of faith, without which what seemed good works are turned into sins." He also beautifully expresses the same thought in another passage when he compares the zeal of such men to a runner off his course. For the more strenuously one runs who is off the path, the farther he gets from his goal, and the more pitiful he therefore becomes. Consequently, Augustine contends that it is better to limp on the path than to run outside it."
~J. Calvin, Institutes, III.14.4

The last patient of the day...

I had decided not to blog about my uncomfortable test. But after last week, I simply can't resist.

I hate this test. To be honest, I am hating most tests these days. I think I have reached my test limit, and I just hate all of them as a pretty equal-opportunity test hater. However, I really tried to talk my gynecologist out of having this one. No go. She explained that the risk is too high on the tamoxifen to skip over the hysterosonogram every year- until I'm off the tamoxifen. That just gives me one more reason to dislike being on tamoxifen!

Well, my hysterosonogram was scheduled for two weeks ago. I arrived at the office (where they have a specialist only on Thursdays to do the procedure), and they completed the first part of the test, and wanted to proceed to the second part, when they couldn't get their lighting fixture to work. They changed the bulbs (twice), all the while with me on my back with feet in stirrups, and then determined it would not work, and they needed to order a new piece of equipment. I would have to reschedule the test for the next week. Ugh!

So, last Thursday, I head to the office again. They have their new piece of equipment, and have been using it all day with other lucky victi--er-patients. I get ready again, and they begin the first part of the test, and the whole blooming machine locks up. They reboot (twice), again while I am in an uncomfortable position, and then call and talk to a technician, who has the doctor unplug the machine and let it set for ten minutes. Then, when trying to reboot for the third time, it was still no go. So I had to get dressed and reschedule yet again. This time, the test is not until next month because there is not Thursday available for both the doc and me until December. As I'm leaving, the nurses start cracking jokes with me: "You are the sonogram jinx!" "Do you break other pieces of equipment?" We are all having a good laugh, and I tell the doc we have to stop meeting like this.

Then, as I am rescheduling and checking out, the doc comes up front and says to the scheduler, "Make sure she's the last patient of the day, just in case..."

God must have a reason that I am not supposed to get this test right now. The saga will continue next month...

The drug of self-pity...

I ran across a profound quote on self-pit today.

“Feeling sorry for yourself is one of the strongest, most addictive narcotics known to man. It feels so good to feel so bad. Self-pity arises so easily, seems so plausible, and proves so hard to shake off.”
~David Powlison

I found this quote on the website of Jollyblogger, a man who knows about self-pity as one fighting for his life against cancer. I know the temptation of this drug, and my bet is that you do, too, Gentle Reader. May we all turn to God in this temptation, and focus on His grace being sufficient for us!

Tim and Nikki's new home

Here are a few photos from Tim and Nikki of their new home. We'll post more after we visit next week, D. V. Can't wait!

Sundays with Jean

In honor of this Reformation Sunday, enjoy this hymn by John Calvin, done beautifully by Zachary Harris (don't really know anything about him, but thought this was a nice performance.) The lyrics are below.

I Greet The Who my Sure Redeemer Art, by Jean Calvin, 1545

I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Savior of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place;
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness;
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.