The Perfect Job

I know there are many people who are trying to find a job, and certainly not really expecting to find the "perfect" job. I, too, searched a long time for a job, and I did finally find the perfect job!. I thought I should share it, just in case this might help someone else.

My Job Search
1. My first job was working in an Orange juice factory, but I got canned; couldn't concentrate.
2. Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe 3. After that, I tried being a tailor, but wasn't suited for it--mainly because it was a sew-sew job.
4. Next, I tried working in a muffler factory, but that was just too exhausting.
5. Then, tried being a chef--figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.
6. Next, I attempted being a deli worker, but anyway I sliced it--couldn't cut the mustard.
7. My best job was a musician, but eventually found I wasn't noteworthy.
8. I studied a long time to become a nurse, but didn't have any patience.
9. Next, was a job in a shoe factory; I tried hard but just didn't have the right fit.
10.I became a professional fisherman, but discovered I couldn't live on my net income.
11. Managed to get a good job working for a pool-maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.
12. So then, I got a job in a workout center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job.
13. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian--until I realized there was no future in it.
14. My last job was working at Starbucks (which I've always thought I wanted to do!), but had to quit because it was the same old grind.
15. So, I finally tried retirement, and I found that I am perfect for the job!
(from Machine Design Magazine, modified by me--the words in italics)

I hope, for those who are looking for a job, that you can eventually find the perfect job, as I did!

We had a Hay Day!

Lynn's daughter, Janelle, has a pony (Star), who like most horses loves hay. (I learned that she is officially a pony, because she is only 13 1/2 hands, and to be a horse they must be at least 14 1/2 hands). At any rate, it was time to store up some hay in the barn to keep the pony happy and well-fed.

While we were waiting for the hay truck to arrive, Janelle introduced Star to the two boys we had hired to help us, Jacob and Peter. I think they even fed her some carrots.

I couldn't believe the big load of hay that arrived; I don't know what I was expecting, but Lynn siad they ordered 150 bales.

With the help of the elevator, the process began. The man we bought the hay from, Dale, had brought to guys with him to help as well. So Dale and one of the guys stayed below and loaded bales onto the elevator.

I think Lynn said the bales weighed about 50 pounds each. They pretty much hefted them up with out any trouble.

My pictures up in the hayloft didn't turn out real well--most of them were blurry. Also the sun was coming in the window, which caused some glare. These were the guys helping Lynn in the Loft, from left to right, one of the guys that came with Dale, Jacob and Peter.

This is Lynn in the background, stacking the bales as the guys got them off the elevator. As I said, not the best picture, but you can see the bales of hay--they were about 3/4 done at this point.

Dale was very interested in taking a tour of the barn; it is only about 7 years old, and the Amish helped build it. Then of course, Dale also had to meet Star. He also has horses, and they were showing him Star's front hooves that they've been nursing back to health for several months. (They had abscesses because of Cushing's disease, and the bone structure of the one hoof is somewhat deformed because of it.) But she's a loveable pony, and they've come a long way in getting her hooves healed.

Fortunately, I didn't have to lift any bales--we had lots of good help for that. My job was strictly as photographer, and now recorder. However, it was very interesting to watch this process, and Star will definitely not run out of hay for a long time!

Improving My Focus

For some reason, the last couple days I've been focusing on my circumstances. Not that I have any major crises right now; but for some reason I've just been kind of "down", thinking about things going on with my son and Nichole, my mother-in-law, etc.

Today I was reading during my devotions, and came across two statements that were an encouragement to me. They are by Warren Wiersbe.

" Someone has described 'circumstances' as "those nasty things you see when you get your eyes off of God". If you look at God through your circumstances, He will seem small and very far away, but if by faith you look at your circumstances through God, He will draw very near and reveal His greatness to you."

"Look at others, and be distressed; look at yourself, and be depressed; look to God, and you'll be blessed."

Commandeered

Tis the season
of wonderful reunions of blessed families.

The March 1, 1908 union of
a deacon’s son and a preacher’s daughter
was blessed with ten children,
six boys and four girls.

Two of the ten children remain for us to enjoy . . .

Uncle Andy, front row—second from the left in the family photo above . . .

And his younger sister, Aunt Vera, who recently celebrated 90 years. She is in the front row, second from the right in the family photo.

From the ten children
were added thirty-nine grandchildren.

Many of those grandchildren gathered today for our biannual Rupp Reunion.

Lyn and Rita, daughters of Aunt Arvada, (little sister on the far left of the front row) were the industrious, capable, creative, and gracious hostesses.

Many years ago, 1958 to be exact,
The cousins sang, “Count Your Many Blessings”
as part of our grandparents' anniversary celebration.

So, as we gathered today,
in thankfulness to God,
for our heritage and our blessings,
we again sang our family song.

It truly was a wonderful day.

However, the reason that I hijacked this blog. . .

Donna’s very cute photo that surfaced today . . .
just had to be shared.

And now, Donna, your younger sister thanks you for the opportunity of being a guest writer.

Regarding Flowers, A hubby, and Contraptions.

(disclaimer: the pictures and text would not line up like I wanted them to, so it may seem a little disjointed. In the interest of not taking any more time, it is what it is.)

A couple weeks ago (or longer), my friend Rebecca generously donated some of her plants and her time to help me do a little landscaping. The result is what I call my "Hosta Garden". (I need to get a cute statue or something to put on the tree stump).

(areas left and right of the stump)

I have two other little flower bed areas that I've wanted to get finished, but my hubby wanted to work up the ground first. Finally, yesterday, I went to buy some annuals and we were able to plant them last night.

Lynn had worked up the ground in these areas, but because of the flooding, and then the intense heat the ground was hard and had clumps of dirt. Being the semi-perfectionist that he is, he decided he needed to get out his "soil grinder" and grind up the clumps of dirt. I didn't know he even had this machine, so it was quite fascinating.

The way this works, is that you put the clumps of dirt into the bin at the top, and it grinds them up and nice fine dirt comes out the bottom. He was very excited that he was able to use this contraption to make my flower beds nice. ( Being very frugal, I think he was just as excited to think that he had purchased this machine for $20!)

These two flower beds are the result of his fine work. I had gotten some marigolds, some that are called Salvia (or Solvia)--they are purple and I thought they were pretty, and some moss roses.

Lynn usually goes with me to buy the flowers, but this time he trusted me to go get what I thought I would like. When he saw the flowers I brought home, he said "I don't think you got enough for both beds". As it turned out, we had exactly enough!

Since he had his soil grinder handy, my hubby decided to grind up some of the horse manure we had at the back of our property; he said it would be great on our vegetable garden.

Being the princess that she is, our dog, Chloe, was very much interested in this manure, and I'm sure wondered what we were doing with it!

Since we had some rain overnight, my vegetable garden and my flower beds all look very nice.

" Thank you, Lord, for giving us sunshine and rain as we need it. You are indeed the "Master Gardener".

The "Eyes" Have It!

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 141:8 But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch...

Sunday evening I began experiencing visual disturbances in my right eye. At first I just thought I had some hairs hanging down over my glasses, but I didn't think my hair was that long! I tried to brush them away, but they continued to be there, floating in front of my eye. Then that night, when the house was dark I started seeing a flashing light in my peripheral vision, moving in an arc vertically. Well, of course when I mentioned these things to Lynn, he said "Call Dr. Walker tomorrow!"

I have had Macular Degeneration in that eye for almost 3 years, and now get frequent injections to keep my eyesight in that eye at about 20/50. However, I had never experienced anything like this.

I was able to get in to Dr. Walker on Tuesday. When I told him what was going on, he said "Well this could be nothing, or it could be something really not good". Well, of course, this did nothing to relieve my concerns!

After a thorough exam, he said, Well you do have a problem, but fortunately we can treat it. He went on to explain that I have a retinal tear. In normal aging, the jelly inside the eye starts to pull away from the retinal wall and shrink. However, in my case, a piece of the jelly stuck to the wall and caused a tear in the retina. He did a laser treatment, which he said will seal it off and fix the tear. However, he said that the visual symptoms I'm having will not go away for about 2-3 months. (As a side note, this had nothing to do with my previous condition--it is a separate issue).

So, if you see me trying to brush the bangs out of my eyes, just realize that it has become sort of a natural instinct to try to get rid of the "floating" hairs that are now my constant companion.

I am so thankful for doctors who have the knowledge and expertise to take care of these things, and I'm especially grateful to the Lord that I continue to have good enough eyesight to do all the things I love to do--read, computer, drive, etc. I am indeed blessed.