Talked with both sons today, both are in the process of getting rid of a cold.  But the rest of the families are doing okay, busy.

Our older granddaughter is getting ready to go to college a short few weeks after graduation.  Can’t believe she is that old – of course still can’t believe that our oldest grandson is in college – not sure when they got that big.

Saw the orthopedic surgeon today, I don’t want surgery if we can do something else, so he gave me a cortisone shot (don’t like them,) but he is in hopes it will relieve some of the pain so physical therapy won’t be so bad.

We will re-evaluate in a few weeks.  I have had problems with that shoulder for years, as I think back it is probably at least 40, off and on.  But it is quite a bit more torn up this time and I ain’t as young as I used to be, hopefully this will be enough to either heal it completely or make if more bearable.

Our neck of the woods, yes I am going to talk about it, is pretty quiet right now.  The last smidgeon of snow is gone this morning, first time we have had no snow on the property since December 8; 92 days.  Yesterday was nice, Thursday (Carla’s day off) should be nice; the rest of it is blah.

Snow is starting to melt in the highlands so we are seeing rivers rising.  Hopefully it will continue to be a slow melt so we can keep flooding to a minimum.

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“The Christian’s conquest of death is absolute.  The result is final.  He has vanquished the last enemy, and has no more battles to fight.”  John Foster

2 Corinthians 5:7-9  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Death is always sad.  The family and friends left behind will grieve and for some will never completely get over it.

They will be working on a project and realize they used to do that together, or they will go to a location and the rush of memories will come over them.  And the fact they are no longer with them, that they can’t share that experience with them will make them sad.

When a person dies, only his body sees death, his soul will live on for eternity.

For a Christian the joy they will see as they are now experiencing the fullness of God and His presence and know they will be with Him forever is a great comfort to his loved ones and friends.

Christians know that death of the body is going to be emotionally painful, but they also know that in due time they will see the loved ones again and will rejoice with them forever.

The soul lives on, either with God and all His glory, or, without God in the flames of hell in eternal death and damnation suffering far more than they could possibly have conceived on earth.

It is one of the things that drive a Christian to tell others about Christ, they know that without Him there is no hope.

We lost the companionship of Gary.  He will be missed and his family will grieve for a long time.  But, while his earthly body has died, his soul lives on and they know and can look forward with joy that someday they will join him.

Mathew 22:32-33  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

³³ And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

And all those that are with Him in heaven, are living – truly living - that everlasting life begins with acceptance of Christ as Savior and never leaves us as we look forward to that hope and promise of eternal life with Him.

Lord, while I mourn with family and friends over the loss of one more friend, may I remember now and in the future that those that are Christians are abiding with you and I will see them once again.  And while mourning their loss, here, I will rejoice with them forever.

Later, Art (-: