Bible Reading

This year we have committed to read the bible through in one year. This plan is a little different in that it is chronological. That means we will jump around a bit and not read in the usual order. We are in Genesis right now but the next book will be Job. It has been a few years since I read all the way through in a year so I am looking forward to it.

I am also taking two courses at the University and one of them will also require a lot of reading. The intro to New Testament will most likely require reading the entire New Testament during the Spring semester as well as a textbook about the New Testament. In addition I am still teaching Matthew on Sunday mornings and will not finish that until Easter. The other course is Greek.

So as you can see, my reading and study schedule will be pretty full for 2012. I hope I can find time to write some things here on the Blog as well. Stay tuned.

Christmas at the Creek



We began our journey on Dec. 19th and went to Nacogdoches to visit Cory & Kelly and their children. We had a wonderful time visiting and opening presents. The grandchildren are growing up so quickly I can hardly keep up.



The grandkids and I



After spending the night at a motel there in Nacogdoches we travelled on to the creek on Tuesday the 20th. It was my 71st birthday and we stopped at several stores to shop on the way. We did buy one toy but mostly stuff for the house or supplies for the next two weeks. We spent most of two weeks there and really got quite a bit accomplished. Our big task was to remove the ancient carpet from the floor and get it cleaned up for putting down new flooring of some sort. We eventually decided on new carpet but we will wait until Spring Break or later to do it. We also had a chimney sweep come down and check out our wood burning stove and chimney. He had to replace the cap on the chimney but otherwise it only required a good cleaning. I also contracted with a man to repair the fishing pier and hopefully that will be done by Spring Break as well. I am really hoping to be mostly done with all the major projects at the house by next year this time. 

We took one day to travel to Dickinson to spend some time with my siblings, Tom and his wife Simone and Frances and her husband David. We had a great lunch and enjoyed getting to see them and catch up on what all of us are doing.



Us Siblings

 Martha had to return to work on the 2nd so we came home on New Years eve but since I needed to complete a few tasks and I needed to meet the chimney man to replace the cap on the chimney, I traveled back down there for a few more days on the 2nd. The weather was nice for the last week but during the first two weeks it was cold and rainy. That is all the more reason to get the fireplace working. 


The house from the street

 We will return to the creek at Spring Break and see how much more we can get done. In the meantime, classes resume at HPU and Martha and I are each taking two classes. She hopes to finish her degree by next Christmas and I am just auditing my two, (Greek and New Testament).  

Retirement has not slowed down much at all. We have finished another semester though and I think we both did well in our classes. My Greek final was today and I am pretty sure that I passed although I was auditing and I don’t really get a grade. Martha on the other hand was pleased to do well on her Algebra exam and is ready to go on to next semester. She hopes to get her degree a year from now.





I have put a few of her watercolors up here for you to see. She has really enjoyed that class.




Here is a nice sunflower

And to the right is a guitar player. I think they are very good
 
We are hoping that the Advent season is as joyful for you as it is for us as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour .

The first 6 weeks

Fall is here and cooler weather is on the way I am told. Tomorrow we will have been in classes for 6 weeks and time seems to fly. Unless of course you are in College Algebra and then it seems to drag. Greek for me is going well and I am slowly absorbing some of it. Martha is still struggling with math but enjoys the watercolor class very much. We are still hoping for a late 2012 finish.

We still have not had very much rain and the lake is getting lower every day. This could really pose a problem for 2012 if the drouth doesn't break. The fires are mostly out in Texas, or at least under tight control and we hear little about them anymore. The aftermath is still there however and many are suffering from the loss of homes and possessions. It will require many years to restore those areas that were burned if indeed they ever are.

When I started this blog I named it Slowing down but I think I should have called it Speeding Up. It seems that there is always something that wants to be done and with class, church and study I really stay pretty busy.

Texas on fire

Life is tough here on the frontier. Labor day weekend brought us the first break in the weather that we have seen all summer. But it wasn't all good. A cold front from Canada brought cooler temperatures and gusty winds from the north. Tropical storm Lee hit Louisiana and the wind spilled over into Texas. Wildfires broke out all over Texas due to the dry conditions, little or no rain all year, and the winds spread the fire faster than the crews could put them out. At last count over 1000 homes statewide and untold thousands of acres including most of a state park have been destroyed. We still are in the grips of the worst drought we have ever seen. Most cities are on some form of water restrictions, some are severe, and we really have no idea when this weather pattern will end and we might receive rain.

At the same time other parts of the nation have experienced epic flooding from torrential rains associated with hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee plus other storms that passed through.

The answer is in the hand of God. He alone controls the wind and the rain. His voice commands the storm and it does His bidding. We must pray, and not just pray, but confess and turn from our wicked ways. Only then will He bless our land and send the rain we so desperately need. 

Our first week of school

Well the first week is over and I have learned the greek alphabet (sort of) and I know vowels and dipthongs, (who cares). Anyway it went well and I am ready to start the second week. We will focus on verbs for the next 2 weeks. Martha is trying to catch up in Algebra but seems to be doing OK She wanted to be in a different class that the one she is in and hopes to get that ironed out tomorrow.

First day of school

Well for many of us today is the first day of classes for the fall term. Lots of public schools start back today and so does our university. I am taking a class in beginning Greek and after the first session I think it will be a good time of learning something new. Martha is taking College Algebra and water coloring so she has a more serious challenge. She hopes to finish her degree by the end of 2012. I am just having fun with no plans to pursue a degree. I'll let you know how it goes.