Isn't Technology Wonderful!

I got my husband a new toy for Christmas… usually they get us a new one then they enjoy it. But I did it this year. lolol. I got us, might as well be honest, I got it for both of us. It is a Memorex turntable that has a USB plug. It is soooo cool. You can take your old records and record them onto your computer with the software that was included. You can then listen to them or burn cd’s or upload them to your ipod. I feel really uptown. Got us an ipod too. I just have to remember not to have the ipod close to my pacemaker…hmmmm.

Needless to say, I have spent the evening listening to old albums and recording them. Talk about memories… and I just started. Don Williams, Mac Davis… now I am dating myself. It’s so much fun…just a kid at heart, what can I say. I know what I will be doing in January. I have a lot of albums and 45’s at our house in Arkansas. We may have to rent a trailer to come home next week.

Technology is wonderful! I am amazed at times what is available. I thank God everyday for giving someone the knowledge and the capability to invent items like for example a pacemaker. Without mine, I would not be here, along with a lot of other people.

We are going to be in Arkansas for 12 days, not sure if I will get a chance to write anything during that time or not. Will be busy enjoying my grandkids. But I do wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Be safe…and God Bless!

“Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:16 - 17

For A Reason...

I am a firm believer everything happens for a reason. We do not always understand what it is. And I really believe there are some things we are just not supposed to understand. But still…

Last week I wrote about our quiet week…what a difference a week can make. Tuesday evening, I was doing our laundry, as I was walking down the hall and heard this awful noise coming from the washing machine. So of course being the detective I am, I decided to check it out. To my surprise, the tub was full of water, at the beginning of the wash cycle, humming. Humming is fine, but it was sitting still. No agitation, just humming. I proceeded to change the different cycles and still all I could get was a low-pitched hum. The kind that just kinda grates on your nerves. So I shared the news with my husband, and he was just as thrilled as I was. I wrung my clothes out by hand and placed them in the basket for the fun trip to the laundry mat. Did I mention how much I hate laundry mats…

So Wednesday off to the laundry mat I went, jeesh the price has gone up since I had to use one. At least I only had to wash I could dry them at home. Took all afternoon to dry them, but hey at least I was at home.

Wednesday afternoon, the repairman came out and took the front off of it, and hooked up his little computer, and informed us it was the drive coupling broke. With the service call it would be $169.00, but (there always seems to be a but in there) since there was a little oil slung on the outside wall, he did not think it was worth fixing. But he did give us coupons to use at the store and only charged us $65 for the service call. How lucky can you get? My first thought was, “Lord how are we going to do this before Christmas?” “How can we swing this?” And I felt his answer immediately…Give it to me…lay it down and I will take care of it. So I immediately started praying about it.

I then got online and found a used machine on craigslist. It was 3 years old and $75. Such a deal… I talked to the mom and she said I would need to call back on Friday. The machine was her son’s. Meantime on Thursday, we went and priced new ones. We could not touch one like ours for under $600, and who can afford that right before Christmas. Friday evening I called and talked to the son, and he said to call him back on Saturday and he would meet us with the machine. Needless to say, when I called on Saturday, his mom informed me that she sold it that afternoon. She apologized and I told her that was ok…not to worry about it. I knew the Lord was going to take care of it for me, but dang he sure is slow sometimes…lolol (just kidding Lord).

I had to run to the store, so I picked up one of the free trader papers on the way out. Opened it up and there was the ad. Washer Heaven… (who says God does not have a sense of humor) they had refurbished machines, so I called the number. The man came out that night and picked our machine up and returned it tonight. He replaced the coupler, the transmission, readjusted a few things and installed it for $100 with a 2-year warranty. Praise the Lord!

So we are just enjoying doing laundry like never before. What I really enjoy is watching the Lord work, and how He answers prayers, but in His time frame and His way.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

A Quiet Week

It has been a very quiet week in the Fastenau household. Stan has been sick with an upper respiratory infection and on antibiotics. So needless to say we have not had any adventures this week. We do not even have our Christmas decorations out. We usually always do that the Friday after Thanksgiving.

We did enjoy our 2nd Thanksgiving meal Saturday with Patt; it was very good, still munching on leftovers. Why do we always make so much food for Holidays? Is there a law that says you have to have leftovers? Our first dinner was with my daughter and her family in Arkansas the Saturday before.

Last night while it was snowing, I ventured outside with my camera. I wanted to try and capture the snow in front of the streetlight with my 35mm. So of course, I took several pictures trying different settings; maybe one of them will work. I had to laugh, the neighbors were watching me from the window, wondering what in the world I was doing. They should know by now, I’m different…and proud of it!

It was so peaceful outside, so quiet, and so beautiful. And I couldn’t help but wonder about the night the Christ child was born. What did the sky look like, besides the star? Was it cold? Or snowing? Did Mary and Joseph realize their baby boy would provide the way for me to go to Heaven, for everyone who accepts Him in their hearts and lives for Him, to reside in Heaven when they leave this world?

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 10, 11