God blesses us when we least expect it

Thursday, May 31, 2018

I had a nice surprise yesterday at work. I prepared to go into a patient's room expecting to do my normal pre-op routine. But I really hadn't paid any attention to the name of the person who awaited me on the other side of the door. I remember opening the door with a smile on my face because of something cute I had just seen in the hallway. Then I realized that peaking out from under a blanket, wearing surgical garb and the ever-flattering blue bouffont cap was a dear old friend of mine whom I hadn't seen in a very long time. My smile widened and even progressed to a few tears of joy. We were able to share a few minutes together before the steady stream of medical professionals began. How sweet to be reunited.

And how sweet that God sent me at just the right time to minister to my friend. Yes, I was able to do my normal pharmaceutical assessment. But more than that, I was able to give reassurance and encouragement that all was going to go well. And it did. The surgery was a piece of cake -- for us anyway. And now my friend is on the mend.

Isn't it just like God to orchestrate a "chance" encounter like that? My friend had been praying about the upcoming surgery -- not really knowing how God would respond. Isaiah 45:2 says, "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight." That's what God did.

Lord, I am so honored to have been a part of your master plan for my friend. Thank you for using me to provide comfort and peace and to bring joy to an otherwise sorrowful heart. Thank you for blessing us both!

God blesses us by bearing our burdens

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Praise be to the Lord, 

to God our Savior, 

who daily bears our burdens.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭68:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I’ve been challenged this week to concentrate on the special blessings from God in my life. Monday I thought all day about my family and how God blesses me through them. Tuesday I was keenly aware of how blessed I am to work with such a wonderful group of people. Today I’m going to focus on how God carrries my burdens. And what a blessing that is!

Scripture says to “cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7) He wants to shoulder our problems, concerns, and anxieties. That is something to really be excited about. And we should take Him at His word. He doesn’t say for us to lay them at His feet, although it’s good to do that, too. He says to hurl them away from us and onto him. Casting takes energy. It is intentional. It is liberating. 

And the peace that follows is deep and sweet because it comes from God, Himself. 

So if you’re looking for something to thank God for, look no further. Give Him your burdens and praise Him for continually bearing your burdens. He is worthy of our praise. 

The Cross is My Statue of Liberty

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.

Thankful though I am that I live in the freedom of the United States of America, I am even more thankful that I live under the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ. 

He takes in the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses seeking freedom from sin and death. He gives spiritual life to all who seek Him. He restores the souls of the redeemed. 

Lord, thank you for your torch of love and hope. Thank you for lighting the way for us to find refuge in your Land. 

The Statue of Liberty
1974 Music and lyrics by Neil Enloe 

In New York Harbor stands a lady,
With a torch raised to the sky;
And all who see her know she stands
for Liberty for you and me.

I'm so proud to be called an American,
To be named with the brave and the free;
I will honor our flag and our trust in God,
And the Statue of Liberty. 

On lonely Golgotha stood a cross,
With my Lord raised to the sky;

And all who kneel there live forever
As all the saved can testify.

I'm so glad to be called a Christian,
To be named with the ransomed and whole;
As the statue liberates the citizen,
So the cross liberates the soul.

Oh the cross is my Statue of Liberty,
It was there that my soul was set free;
Unashamed I'll proclaim that a rugged cross
Is my Statue of Liberty!

Memorial Day

Monday, May 28, 2018

People around the world have been decorating the graves of fallen soldiers for centuries. In this country, our Memorial Day has its roots in our Civil War (1861-1865). It first was called Decoration Day and honored the 620,000 who died in the Civil War. But over time it has expanded to include all of our fallen soldiers from any US conflict. 

Initially, Memorial Day was celebrated nationally on May 30 for two reasons: there were no civil war battles fought on that day and blooming spring flowers were plentiful. Later it was shifted to the last Monday of May and also unofficially commemorated the first day of summer. 

So what is your Memorial Day tradition? Many families gather for cookouts and take flowers to the graves of their veteran relatives. It is a wonderful time to remember loved ones who have been a part of our US military. 

Lord, thank you for these men and women  who gave their lives for the rest of us so that we can be free. 

May 27, 2018 - Memory Verse

Focus this week on the

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Take delight in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this....

Psalm 37:4-5 NIV

Pon tu delicia en el SEÑOR, 

Y El te dará las peticiones de tu corazón. 

Encomienda al SEÑOR tu camino,

Confía en El, que El acturá....

Salmos 37:4-5 NBLH

Delight in the Lord — your desires will amazingly change over time to reflect His desires. 

Commit to Him — He will respond. 

Trust Him — He will respond. 

The rest of chapter 37 talks about all the many ways God will bless and protect His people who delight in, commit to, and trust Him. 

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Vacation in West Virginia

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Ever since we took some college kids skiing in West Virginia a gazillion years ago, I have loved this state. It is beautiful in every season. There are so many cool places to see, artisan shops to visit, and natural wonders to enjoy. Here are a few ideas for a vacation this summer — and my list doesn’t even include the Greenbrier Hotel. Wish I could go to them all!

New River Gorge National River

The New and the Gauley Rivers make for some excellent white water rafting. The National Park Service manages 70,000 acres along the New River. And two state parks are right there, too: Hawk’s Nest State Park and Bluestone State Park. If you like to camp, fish, canoe, zip-line, hike, etc, this might be just the spot for you. 

Blackwater Falls State Park in Elkins, WV

Blackwater Falls gets its name from the discolored water coming from upstream where the hemlock and red spruce grow. The park boasts two other waterfalls, a canyon, a lake, countless trails, and gorgeous overlooks.  

Seneca Caverns In Riverton, WV

TripAdvisor.com
Seneca Caverns in Riverton, WV is a cool place to go to escape the heat of summer. 

Monongahela National Forest in Elkins, WV

This is a beautiful forest of about 7000 acres. 

Snowshoe Mountain

snowshoemtnrentals.com
What a great place to visit in the summer. It’s fascinating. And there are a lot of fun outdoorsy things to do. 

Harpers Ferry

lynetravels.blogspot.com
The Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers meet at Harpers Ferry. Activities in this town led to the start of our Civil War. You’ll find museums and historical exhibits as well as good Appalachian trails to navigate. 

West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville

This seems a little strange to me but according to the Internet, this is one of the top ten places to visit in West Virginia. They have guided tours by day and paranormal experiments by night (that sounds a little more dramatic than I think it actually is). 

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV

They tried several new approaches to caring for the patients in this asylum— like  staggering the hallways so that optimal natural light could enter the facility. Count on spending a couple of hours here. 

West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, WV

Full of historical significance, the capitol building is a lovely architectural specimen. They offer tours every day. 

This wraps up my exploration of all the states touching Kentucky. Hope you got some good ideas for some vacation fun this summer!

Vacation in Ohio

Friday, May 25, 2018

In researching things to do in Ohio, I ran across some interesting facts.
Ohio is known as the Buckeye state because of the trees that grow there. Its people are also known as Buckeyes.
Ohio is famous for several things:

• Sports: NCAA football, pro football, major league baseball, pro hockey, pro soccer.
  The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, Ohio.
• Amusement Parks: Cedar Point and Kings Island
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland.
• Aeronautics: Orville and Wilbur Wright are from Ohio.
  21 NASA astronauts were born in Ohio including Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and John Glenn.
• Politics: No Republican President has ever been elected without winning Ohio.
  Eight Presidents hale from Ohio.
• In 1969 the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught on fire because it was so full of pollution and debris. This led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (Dec 1970) and The Clean Water Act of 1972.

But did you know that Ohio is home to more than 70 Native American "mounds?" The mound builders inhabited the region for several hundred years dating back to perhaps 300 years BC and they built the mounds for burial, storage, and religious purposes. Some are conical. Some are dome-shaped. Some are linear. Some are circular. And some were built to resemble some sort of animal -- like the Serpent Mound in Peebles, OH.

While I am not interested in listing all 70 mounds here, I would suggest that a trip to investigate these wonders might be really cool.  Most of Ohio's mounds are in the central and southern part of the state -- fairly accessible to my Kentucky friends.

Let me know if you go check them out.

Serpant Mound (YouTube.com)

Cedar Point (photo via Cedar Point FaceBook)

Pro Football Hall of Fame 

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

McKinley Presidential Library and Museum (atlasobscura.com)

Vacation in Indiana

Thursday, May 24, 2018

	Yesterday I decided that I would write something about the many festivals we can find in Indiana every summer. What could be better than listing all of them -- especially those in the southern part of the state -- so that you could see at a glance if something looked interesting. Let me tell you. This was quite a task. Below you will find ONLY the festivals I could find for June 2018. I would hate to count the others in July and August or the ones located north of Indianapolis.  Someone PLEASE get back to me later and tell me that you went to one of these places. They all do look very interesting.  For more detailed information, please follow this link to the Indiana Fairs and Festivals website. I'm sure you'll find something fun to do.  Indiana Fairs and Festivals June 1-2, 2018 – Chandelier Barn Market Show in Montgomery, IN       Meet talented artisans.       Enjoy live music, art, crafts, food, and good family fun. June 1-2, 2018 - Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival in Franklin, IN       Use natural fibers to make something uniquely yours.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food June 2-3, 2018 – Arts in Harmony in New Harmony, IN       This is the 11th annual festival which will feature incredible artists and musicians.       Enjoy art and crafts. June 3, 2018 – Tri-State Antique Market in Lawrenceburg, IN       This will be a huge antique and vintage market.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and commercial vendors. June 8-9, 2018 Whiskey Creek Barn Market Festival at Whiskey Creek Farms in Coal City, IN       Meet the makers and their crafts.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and festivities. June 8-9, 2018 – RiverRoots Music and Folk Arts Festival in Bicentennial Park in Madison, IN       Features folk and Americana music.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food. June 9-10, 2018 – Art on the Parish Green in New Albany, IN at St Paul’s Episcopal Church       There will be over 90 juried artists showcasing their works.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food, etc. June 9, 2018 – Johnson County Antique Market in Franklin, IN at the Johnson County Fairgrounds       Antiques and vintage collectibles.       Enjoy art and crafts. June 9, 2018 – Bridgeton Woodworking and Quilt Show       See woodworking items on display and for sale.       Enjoy art, crafts, and more. June 9, 2018 – Bloomington Fair of the Arts in Bloomington, IN at Showers Plaza       Enjoy art and community with displays, sales, and demonstrations.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, and commercial vendors. June 9-16, 2018 – Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom, IN at the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground       This is the 52nd annual festival and has an incredible line-up of musicians.       Enjoy music, crafts, food, and commercial vendors. June 9, 2018 – Spencer Arts in the Park Festival in Spencer, IN at McCormick’s Creek State Park.       Local artists will be displaying and selling their creations.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 9-10, 2018 – Golden Raintree Antique Show in New Harmony, IN       Features over 50 booths.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 9-10, 2018 – Eagle Creek Folk Music Festival in Indianapolis, IN       This will include workshops, music, jamming, dancing, an open stage, etc.       Enjoy music and art. June 13-16, 2018 – Knightstown Indiana Jubilee Days       Amusement rides, live entertainment, queen and princess competitions, etc.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 14, 2018 – Indianapolis Strawberry Festival at Christ Church Cathedral       There will be entertainment along with six tons of strawberries!       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food, and more. June 15-24, 2018 – Marion County Fair in Indianapolis, IN       Fun children’s activities, father’s day celebration, 4H shows and exhibits.       Enjoy food, commercial vendors, etc. June 16-17, 2018 – Talbot Street Art Fair in Indianapolis, IN       Features over 270 artists from all over the U.S.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food, and commercial vendors. June 16, 2018 – Independent Music and Art Festival in downtown Indianapolis, IN       This is the 17th annual festival featuring local musicians who will be performing live.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, and food. June 16, 2018 – INDIEana Handicraft Exchange 2018       Features artists and crafters who will be showcasing their work.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food, and commercial vendors. June 17-23, 2018 – Harrison County Fair in Corydon, IN       This will include a queen contest, exhibits, a midway, 4H shows and exhibits.       Enjoy food and commercial vendors. June 18-23, 2018 – Dearborn County 4-H and Community Fair in Lawrenceburg, IN       Features educational shows, flower show, carnival rides, livestock shows, and more.       Enjoy food and commercial vendors. June 22-23, 2018 – Smoke on the Square in Franklin, IN       Features local entertainment, live music, artcraft theatre, children’s activities, and more.       Enjoy food vendors and more. June 23, 2018 – Arts Fair on the Square in Bloomington, IN at the courthouse square       This is the 38th annual fair which will feature 100 regional and national artists.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 23-30, 2018 – Wayne County 4-H Fair in Richmond, IN       This will include 4-H shows, exhibits, entertainment, amusement, etc.       Enjoy food, commercial vendors, etc. June 23, 2018 – Southside Summer Vintage Marketplace in Indianapolis at the Southport Antique Mall       This features vintage, antiques, collectibles, furniture, home décor, handcrafted items, etc.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 30, 2018 – Hendricks County Rib-Fest in Avon, IN at Kingsway Christian Church       This features live music, rib run, children’s activities, etc.       Enjoy art, crafts, food, and more. June 30, 2018 – Greenwood Freedom Festival at Craig Park       This will include a parade, live music, freedom jam, booths, children’s activities, etc.       Enjoy music, art, crafts, food, and more.

Vacation in Illinois

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Today we move to Illinois to see what we can find worth exploring. In Southern Illinois alone there are countless places to hike and climb and be outdoors. But I was intrigued by all the obscure little jewels that southern Illinois had hidden away. It might require a little driving, but I think some of these places might be well worth our time and effort to locate.

Belleville -- Giant Lady's Shoe

Chester -- Popeye Museum (hunt all over town for the statues of Olive Oyl, Swee' Pea, and the Jeep, Castor Oyl and Bernice the Whiffle Hen, Cole, Wimpy, Popeye, Sea Hag and Bernard the Vulture, and Stinger the Yellow Jacket)

Collinsville -- World's Largest Catsup Bottle 

Edwardsville -- 25ft Geriatric Walker 

Eldorado -- Big John the Grocery Clerk

Metropolis -- Superman Statue and Super Museum (full of all things Superman)

   Birdman of Alcatraz Grave

   Kryptonite

   Lois Lane in Bronze

   Fort Massac: Aaron Burr's Plots to Conquer Mexico

Mount Pleasant -- Grave of King Neptune the Pig (used by a Navy recruiter to raise $19 million in war bonds for the building of a battleship)

Let me know if you have been to any of these places or if you go there this summer. Hope this has given you some ideas on things to do.

Vacation in Missouri

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

I have lived in Kentucky for 49 years and I had no idea what our western border with Missouri looked like. I just always assumed the Mississippi River separated us from them. Well, it does but....

There is a little parcel of land on the other side of the Mississippi that belongs to Kentucky but is separated from us by a chunk of Missouri. And interestingly enough, you can’t get there from here. None of the maps I looked at indicated that a road went from the eastern portion of Fulton County to the western portion. In order to get there from Kentucky you have to drive north, cross the river into Missouri, then drive south into Kentucky again. 

Or, you could drive south then west in Tennessee then north back into Kentucky.  

Or, as the crow flies, you could go due west from Fulton County, cross the Mississippi River, through Missouri, then into Fulton County again. 

That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of! I mean seriously! Crazy!

So for those Kentuckians who live west of Paducah, if you can get across the Mississippi, I found a few places that might be interesting to visit. Of course, I’d love to hear from any locals around there to give me their experience in Missouri. 

The Space Museum in Bonne Terre, MO

Bonne Terre Mine

Trail of Tears State Park north of Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape River Heritage Museum in Cape Girardeau, MO

Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, MO

Have fun exploring. And let me know what you find. 

Vacation in Tennessee

Monday, May 21, 2018

Last week we started looking at some possible vacation ideas for states surrounding Kentucky (since a lot of my readers live here). We've checked out places in Kentucky and western Virginia that looked pretty cool. And since the Cincinnatti zoo has a membership that offers half price tickets to reciprocal zoos and aquariums, I listed a bunch of places in neighboring states that are on their list.

So today I want to look at a few places in Tennessee.

I love going to the Smoky Mountains and there are so many things to see and do there. If you're an outdoorsy kind of a person, there are countless places to hike and camp. One of my all-time favorite things to do is to go whitewater rafting and Tennessee boasts the best rivers in the southeast. I've done two of the three and they were big fun.

• Pigeon River
• Upper Ocoee
• Lower Ocoee

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are two places we go with some regularity because they are relatively easy to get to and have a lot of things to do. (They also have a Fuddruckers!) Whether you like amusement parks, themed dinners, games, or shopping, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have plenty of options. Last year we rented a cabin and made most of our meals there. It was lovely.

Speaking of Fuddruckers, not only is there one in Sevierville, but in Johnson City and Knoxville, as well. Whenever we are on our way through Knoxville, we always have to stop for a good burger. 

Cookeville Performing Arts Center is a place well worth a visit to see a good play. We saw the Phantom of the Opera there once. It's a small theater but the performance was second to none.

When we lived in western Kentucky, we ventured down to Nashville a time or two. They have got some nice family-friendly things to do there. It's a great place.

• Adventure Science Center 
• Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
• Rocketown -- great for teenagers
• The Lane Motor Museum
• Nashville Children's Theatre
• Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, home of the People's President
• Tennessee State Museum
• Belle Meade Plantation
• Parthenon
• Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Grand Ole Opry
• Bluebird Café
• Nashville Shores
• Nashville Sounds -- triple A affiliate of the Oakland A's

Hopefully if you are thinking about visiting our neighbors to the south, you will find some really fun things to see and do. Let me know if you take in any of these places and what you thing about them.

Coming up: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Got any places you want me to include in my entry?

tennesseefacts.facts.co

May 20, 2018 - Memory Verse

Focus this week on 

ASSURANCE

But he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me.

II Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Y El me ha dicho: 

"Te basta Mi gracia, 

pues Mi poder se perfecciona en la debilidad." 

Por tanto, con muchísimo gusto me gloriaré más bien en mis debilidades, 

para que el poder de Cristo more en mí. ‭‭

2 Corintios‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NBLH‬‬

It is by the strength of our Lord that we get through all of life’s challenges. Thank Him for His goodness and grace. 

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The world hates you because it hated me first.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
‭‭John‬ ‭15:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why do people hate each other?

Perhaps it is because of greed or insecurity or the quest for power or because of some kind of pain. But the bottom line is that hate is a direct result of Satan’s influence in the world. 

How should hatred toward us make us feel?

First, if we experience hatred from any source, we should evaluate our lives to see if we can find something that needs to be addressed there. We should ask these questions: Am I doing God’s will? Am I allowing Satan to have a foothold in my life. Depending on what we find, we should talk to God about it and make any necessary adjustments. 

Secondly, if we are in God’s will then we should feel honored that Satan is after us. If we weren’t doing well with God, then Satan wouldn’t care. But if we’re on target spiritually it gets under Satan’s skin, so to speak, and he gets after us. 

Remember this. It isn’t you that Satan is after, really. It is God. He seems to have forgotten that Christ won the victory over sin and death. And he is oblivious to the fact that in the end, he is going down! For now he is content to mess with God by messing with His precious children. 

What should we do about it?

First of all, don’t lose your head. Depend on the Holy Spirit to empower you with self control — one of His fruits. 

Secondly, carefully lace your response with love — another of His fruits. 

Then pray for the person who is being hateful toward you. Pray earnestly. Allow God to break your heart for them. Seriously. They need Him. You need to pray for them. 

Father, we see hatred all around us. And sometimes it directly affects us. Help us to recognize that it is You that Satan hates and that You are the Victor.  We claim Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as we deal with the haters of this world. Thank you for Your help because we couldn’t do it without you. 

Vacation at the Zoo

Friday, May 18, 2018

In thinking about things to do this summer in and around Kentucky, I thought about one of my favorite places to visit -- the zoo. I can never get enough of the penguins, elephants, giraffes, big cats, birds of prey, reptiles, flamingos, bears, primates . . . . We have a season pass at the Cincinnati Zoo and with it comes 50% off of the cost of admission to about 200 other zoos and aquariums in the US. So let's look at these partnering zoos in neighboring states. Perhaps you might find zoo-hopping to be your thing this summer.

ILLINOIS

Cosley Zoo (Wheaton)

Henson Robinson Zoo (Springfield)

Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago)

Miller Park Zoo (Bloomington)

Peoria Zoo (Peoria)

Scovill Zoo (Decatur)

INDIANA

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo (Fort Wayne)

Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden (Evansville)

Potawatomi Zoo (South Bend)

KENTUCKY
Louisville Zoological Garden (Louisville)

MISSOURI

Dickerson Park Zoo (Springfield)

Kansas City Zoo (Kansas City)

Saint Louis Zoo (Saint Louis)

Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka)

SEA LIFE Aquarium (Kansas City)

OHIO
African Safari Wildlife Park (Clinton)
Akron Zoological Park (Akron)
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (Dayton)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (Cleveland)
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Powell))
Toledo Zoo (Toledo)
the Wilds (Cumberland)

TENNESSEE

Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park (Chattanooga)

Knoxville Zoo (Knoxville)

Memphis Zoo (Memphis)

Nashville Zoo (Nashville)

VIRGINIA

Virginia Zoo (Norfolk)

WEST VIRGINIA
Oglebay's Good Zoo (Wheeling)

Have you ever been to any of these zoos? Do you have any suggestions for readers who want to visit? 

If you decide to explore any of these places, let us know what you think about them.


Baby Fiona
cincinnatizoo.thankyou4caring.org