# 77 Alone

I like the old saying that goes,

 "I only like to fish when I am by myself, or with somebody"

Sometimes being alone can be a good thing and other times its nice to have a wife, brother, sister or close friend to share an event with. The older I get the harder it is to find a good friends. They take time to cultivate. Being from a large family has some great advantages, there is always some kindred spirit to talk to. I never have been very lonely, because I think I am very good company!

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

George Washington

Psalm 62

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

# 76 Cars

I changed a flat this week. First time in a long time.

I had to do it  because I did not take my own advice given here!! I put off getting new tires for a few days...bad mistake!

It cost me a lot more than a set of tires of course. The blowout, took out, some brake wiring so you can guess the rest of the story..

It was not pretty.

My foot is kind of sore from kicking myself!

If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 MPG.

Bill Gates

Psalm 91

11 For he will give his angels charge of you

    to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.

# 75 Plans

We were picked for a draw (deer) hunt at a Texas Wildlife Management Area this year.

 A week long hunt in the deep hardwood forests of East Texas.

 I will be joined by two of my sons and a very good friend.

The excitement of  winning the lottery is soon replaced by the anticipation of the trip. So now the planning begins. Planning is half the fun. TOPO maps are being emailed, gear lists updated, and menu planning is in full swing. We have a month to get ready!

I once came up with this advice to myself.

Make your plans, but do not plan on it.

" And during the long winter months they are prone

to collect in little knots and talk much of camps, fishing, hunting, and “roughing it."

The last phrase is very popular and always cropping out in the talks on matters

pertaining to a vacation in the woods. I dislike the phrase. 

We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it.

 We get it rough enough at home; in towns and cities; in shops, offices, stores, banks, anywhere that

we may be placed—with the necessity always present of being on time and up to our work; of

providing for the dependent ones; of keeping up, catching up, or getting left.."

George Washington Sears...Nessmuk

Psalm 46

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

    I am exalted among the nations,

    I am exalted in the earth!”

#74 Storms

Today we had a wild storm that hit mid morning. I do not know too much about forecasting weather, but I do when when warm air and cold air meet there can be some fireworks! Two hours later we needed our sun glasses again. The same is true in our lives. Sometimes we just need to weather the storms and look for better weather ahead.

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes its a quite voice at the end of the day saying:

"I'll try again tomorrow"

Mary Ann Radmacher

1 Kings 19

 And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him,

# 73 Give it up!

When is the last time you gave something away? Not the kind of stuff you would put in the garage sale or goodwill but I mean some of your GOOD stuff. 

This is something in my life that I need to do a better job with.

 I suffer from the "I may need that one day" syndrome! 

Yea I may have a bit of hoarder in me. I do like to watch American Pickers!! I hope you will join me and find something you have, that will have an impact on someone else and just

 "Give it up"

Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

2 Corinthians 9

6 The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for 

God loves a cheerful giver. 

# 72 The Zoo

Yep went to the zoo last week! It has been a few years since I had been. Its always better if you pick a cool day (we did) so you can spend more than an hour walking around. It is a great place to see raw emotion from children seeing the animals sometimes for the first time. we got to see the baby shadow leopard cubs on display for the first time on this trip (pictured above). That is what makes the adults ooo and ahhhh!  A great place to test your photo skills too!

The city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.

Desmond Morris

Genesis 1

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the cattle according to their kinds, and everything that creeps upon the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

# 71 Procrastinate

Some things you can put off, but some things not matter what you do they are going to happen.

I think it is best to do the things, you know you should do, when you know you should do them!

Easier said than done.

Like the seasons many things will be upon us whether we like it or not.

Take some time today and think of what should be on your to do list...and do it!

Procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder.

Mason Cooley

27 Proverbs 27 1-2
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips.