Our English language is a challenge for so many people, not just those who are new to our country. There are so many sound alike words that seem to confuse and confound. They're in a quandary between their and there. Two times the confusion between to and too. It is bye-bye to a decision between buy and by. I struggle with lie, lay, and laid. Whether to say who or whom is also one I can't decide. Which reminds me of whether and weather. The list can be long. I think I usually make the correct decision. Do not say right if you are giving directions and are trying to tell them to go left. I learned the hard way that it is better to say correct rather than right. We ended up going the wrong way at a most difficult moment during a trip when I made the incorrect choice of words.
More will pop into my head before too long. This can get to be too too much. Not to or two much. What things have you seen others struggle with? We don't address something too somebody. We do write to the person. I did not do great in English, yet I can spot some things at a distance. I could not understand all the parts of a sentence, but I was good in spelling. I would not do great in a spelling bee though as I need to see the words and many are just too difficult. Notice I said spelling bee as it is not a spelling be.
There are words that are spelled the same way with different meanings. There is the name Bill as opposed to bill collectors. We wave to people and there are waves on the beach. I was just reminded of your and you're to be careful with when writing. There is fairy and ferry boat. I almost wrote their instead of there. I'm sure you can add to the list. I am now reminded of ad and add.
With some words the question is whether to write le as in puzzle and table or el as in angel. Of course there is also angle. Course and coarse can confound me at times. What a tangled web I weave. I guess I have dealt with this long enough. Just thought I would have some fun.
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lessons. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Violin
I remember that one time when I was quite young Mabel gave me a pet goose. This goose was mean as geese can sometimes be. I was the only one brave enough to get close to it. One time my goose disappeared and was found on the next block. He was having a grand old time in the beautiful fish pond at the apartments on that block.
When I was in sixth grade Mabel gave me a beautiful antique violin. I enjoyed violin lessons given by the music teacher at school. My parents also got a little violin for my youngest sister Betty so she took lessons at school that same year. The problem is that we moved before the school year was over and did not get to continue our lessons. We never got past "Baa Baa Black Sheep." I continued to be proud of my violin though.
When I was a young adult I loaned my violin to the son of one of my friends so he could learn to play. He did quite well and even got to be in the young peoples orchestra. I think it was the San Diego Junior Orchestra. Or maybe it was the Youth Orchestra. Anyway he was quite skilled and really benefited from using my violin. He went into theater and became a teacher in that area.
I eventually got my violin back. The last time I talked to Mabel she thought that I got rid of my violin. I assured her that it was still mine.
My children never got the opportunity to use the violin. Kathy wanted to learn an instrument and was able to borrow an instrument from what was available at school. It was a woodwind instrument that she could never get the hang of. I"m sure she would have done a lot better on my violin, but I did not have it at the time. All of the children would have benefited from music lessons. They enjoyed trying to teach themselves the piano that we had. Laura is a natural at the piano. Griff eventually picked up the guitar and enjoys playing it. Bill may have picked up the guitar at one time too.
Melissa has benefited from her many years of lessons. She played in her school orchestra for a couple of years. I was able to get to Colorado one time when she was playing in a concert at school. She doesn't always use the old violin as she keeps it for special times. She has another violin for using more often. I got to see her play at her church one time too. She is in a group at her church that routinely plays for services. I have yet to see her in this group.
It seems that children who play an instrument do better in school. Melissa had some struggles at the beginning of her school years. She did one grade twice which is not unusual in our family. At least one or two children in each generation going back to my father have had to repeat first or second grade. It appears to me that Melissa started doing great in school as she got into her music lessons. I'm all for schools keeping their music programs. I enjoyed what little violin lessons I had. I especially enjoyed the singing we did in school. I chose to be in girls chorus as many years as possible in high school. Music is good for the soul. I love singing in church.
Paul took many years of piano lessons and it was very beneficial to him. He ended up being the church organist for many years even though he never had a lesson at the organ. He had an opportunity to play for chapel in Korea and that was the beginning of his organ playing. He is out of practice now and he has a bad eye so he is not playing at this time. But he had a long time at the organ and piano which I enjoyed. I'm sure he enjoyed it too. It was really neat when he played duets with whoever was playing the piano at the time. Friendships were also formed by doing this.
Photos are of Melissa Joy Golden with The Violin
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Following Him
When I first came to the realization that I needed to really know God it was an eye opening experience. I did not have a problem with really believing in Him. I needed to learn what it really is to follow Him. I do not know the exact moment I accepted Jesus, but I do know the year that I had changes in my life.
I was twenty three years old and expecting our third child when I became aware of needing a personal walk with Jesus. I could have begun this memorable time just before I was pregnant. But I remember Paul coming home from work with a renewed 'enthusiasm' for the Lord. He had a good friend that was on fire for the Lord and it seemed to have rubbed off on Paul. Paul was already a Christian so this was mainly a time of growth for him. I would have thought I was already a Christian as I had always gone to church and Sunday school.
The reason I remember I was pregnant is because I got the mumps during the early stages of my pregnancy and this was around that time. Paul got the mumps from his friend at work. Paul had them bad and knew to stay home in bed, not like his friend did. I was already expecting our baby at that time. When I got the mumps I only had them on one side but I spent time in bed despite having two little girls to care for. I remember being in bed and beginning to read the large family Bible that we had. Baby steps in being a new Christian.
Kathy and Laura got the mumps around that same time also. With children there always seemed to be times of illness to remember. But reading to them from a favorite set of books as well as Bible stories is what I remember most. Bedtime prayers were always part of the evening ritual. It was also fun to sing the songs we knew from Sunday school as well as other favorites.
Another event that happened when I was pregnant was when Paul and I were baptized in the ocean at Rosarito Beach south of the border. Paul's friend had been baptized there as he had connections with a little church in Tijuana where his wife was from. He made arrangements for us to be baptized down there too. It was a memorable day spent with our friend and his family and friends from the little church south of the border. I do not have photos but it is imprinted in my mind. This was 1960 and Rosarito Beach was completely different than it is today. We had the beach to ourselves near the old hotel that has been there for generations.
We were still in the Methodist church at that time. We were there until our baby boy was a few months old, early in 1961. Over the years we had visited First Baptist in Coronado on occasion when there were visiting evangelists. After we went to hear the evangelist in 1961 we were drawn to our little Baptist church in Coronado. Pastor Lyon was there at that time and we liked him a lot. The people of First Baptist were very welcoming and we decided to join the church that spring. This was a time of growth for us. I enjoyed becoming active there.
Another thing I remember when Paul and I were going through so many changes is wanting to share the message with family and friends. I was awkward at it and all I really accomplished was letting people know that there was something different about me. It took me a long time to be comfortable with this new me. I still struggle on how to share this good news. But it is a part of me and not something to be uncomfortable about. I remember one neighbor and friend who called me a "Holy Roller". That is one thing I never considered myself to be. We did visit Paul's friend's church, which was a Church of God, on several occasions. The church we were baptized through was a Church of God. They are often much more enthusiastic than we are used to although I never witnessed anything different.
People seem to have their own opinions on what it is to be a Christian. Many people think you have to work to be saved, but it is a gift freely given. Some people think that the building will collapse if they enter the door. Of course they are joking. It would be difficult to enter for the first time if you weren't used to going to church. That is one reason churches have special activities that are separate from worship services. People can see that we are friendly and they would be welcome. Other people think that just going to church makes you a Christian. I may have been part of that category at one time. What makes the difference between a believer and a nonbeliever is whether or not you have accepted Christ as your Savior. We need to have Him as the most important part of our lives.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
I was twenty three years old and expecting our third child when I became aware of needing a personal walk with Jesus. I could have begun this memorable time just before I was pregnant. But I remember Paul coming home from work with a renewed 'enthusiasm' for the Lord. He had a good friend that was on fire for the Lord and it seemed to have rubbed off on Paul. Paul was already a Christian so this was mainly a time of growth for him. I would have thought I was already a Christian as I had always gone to church and Sunday school.
The reason I remember I was pregnant is because I got the mumps during the early stages of my pregnancy and this was around that time. Paul got the mumps from his friend at work. Paul had them bad and knew to stay home in bed, not like his friend did. I was already expecting our baby at that time. When I got the mumps I only had them on one side but I spent time in bed despite having two little girls to care for. I remember being in bed and beginning to read the large family Bible that we had. Baby steps in being a new Christian.
Kathy and Laura got the mumps around that same time also. With children there always seemed to be times of illness to remember. But reading to them from a favorite set of books as well as Bible stories is what I remember most. Bedtime prayers were always part of the evening ritual. It was also fun to sing the songs we knew from Sunday school as well as other favorites.
Another event that happened when I was pregnant was when Paul and I were baptized in the ocean at Rosarito Beach south of the border. Paul's friend had been baptized there as he had connections with a little church in Tijuana where his wife was from. He made arrangements for us to be baptized down there too. It was a memorable day spent with our friend and his family and friends from the little church south of the border. I do not have photos but it is imprinted in my mind. This was 1960 and Rosarito Beach was completely different than it is today. We had the beach to ourselves near the old hotel that has been there for generations.
We were still in the Methodist church at that time. We were there until our baby boy was a few months old, early in 1961. Over the years we had visited First Baptist in Coronado on occasion when there were visiting evangelists. After we went to hear the evangelist in 1961 we were drawn to our little Baptist church in Coronado. Pastor Lyon was there at that time and we liked him a lot. The people of First Baptist were very welcoming and we decided to join the church that spring. This was a time of growth for us. I enjoyed becoming active there.
Another thing I remember when Paul and I were going through so many changes is wanting to share the message with family and friends. I was awkward at it and all I really accomplished was letting people know that there was something different about me. It took me a long time to be comfortable with this new me. I still struggle on how to share this good news. But it is a part of me and not something to be uncomfortable about. I remember one neighbor and friend who called me a "Holy Roller". That is one thing I never considered myself to be. We did visit Paul's friend's church, which was a Church of God, on several occasions. The church we were baptized through was a Church of God. They are often much more enthusiastic than we are used to although I never witnessed anything different.
People seem to have their own opinions on what it is to be a Christian. Many people think you have to work to be saved, but it is a gift freely given. Some people think that the building will collapse if they enter the door. Of course they are joking. It would be difficult to enter for the first time if you weren't used to going to church. That is one reason churches have special activities that are separate from worship services. People can see that we are friendly and they would be welcome. Other people think that just going to church makes you a Christian. I may have been part of that category at one time. What makes the difference between a believer and a nonbeliever is whether or not you have accepted Christ as your Savior. We need to have Him as the most important part of our lives.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9
Saturday, June 25, 2011
A Stitch In Time, Part Two
In the last 'Stitch in Time' I began with pretty much the same story as this time. There is a follow up story to go with it. On New Year's Day in 1957 when my first daughter Kathy was a toddler we were spending the day at my parents' house in Coronado. Kathy was exploring, as toddlers do, when she fell down the back steps and bumped her forehead. It looked as if it might need stitches so I called our doctor in Coronado. He said to bring her to his house so he could look at it. When he saw Kathy he knew she needed stitches and said he would meet us at his office. We quickly went the short distance to the office, on tenth street, where he and his wife tended to our dear little girl. She ended up with several stitches right above her eyebrow.
I remember this story as a reminder of how things were in that day and age compared to what they are now. You would not expect to even call a doctor at home now, or to be able to go to their office on New Year's Day. Well, I was telling this story to my foot doctor who is in that very same office as we went to those many years ago. He was aware of the doctor that had been in his office, and I had told him previously that I had been to the doctor in that office back in the fifties. As I was telling him the New Year's story recently, he was waiting for me to finish my story as he had a story to tell me.
His story is that on New Year's Day in 2011 his friend's little girl got a very bad splinter in her foot that needed medical care. My good podiatrist opened up his office on New Year's Day to tend to this little girl's foot. This was the very same office where I had taken my little Kathy those many years ago on the first day of the year so she could have her brow stitched up. So amazing! So personal care is not outdated. At least it is not outdated if you know the right doctor.
My sister Donna was telling me that it was a Sunday that she injured her foot and the doctor opened up his office to tend to her. She needed stitches in her foot. I remember the injury and her needing stitches, but I had forgotten that it was a Sunday. This is when she was a preteen or early teenager.
I needed stitches on my hand one time when I was a young teenager. I had been chasing one of our friends who had taken my ball. We were in the street near our house and I fell on my hand and hurt it bad. I went to our doctor and got a number of stitches in the palm of my hand. I can still see the scar. I baby sat in those days to be able to buy clothes and other things I needed. I paid for my stitches, all $19.00 of the bill with my baby sitting money. That is when we got thirty five cents an hour for baby sitting. Three hours was a whole dollar and five cents. I even baby sat the same evening that I got my stitches even though it hurt a lot.
One time when our son Griff was a young adult he cut his hand very bad on a machete that he had brought back from the Philippines. He had to call a taxi to take him to the emergency room as he was too injured to drive. He actually was not being careless when he injured his hand. It seems that the case for the machete had a worn out spot and he mistakenly put his hand on that part of the case. Those kind of injuries sure can hurt. His hand is fine now.
In the last 'Stitch in Time' I shared about the stitches my children got when they were little. As far as I can remember they each had one set of stitches as children. The same for my sisters and me. There have been stitches due to surgery but that is not the same as those unplanned events that need stitches. I guess no one would choose either though. The thing to do is to handle each case in a timely manner. Each thing we go through is part of our growth and hoping we don't make the same mistakes again that led to the need for a stitch in time.
I remember this story as a reminder of how things were in that day and age compared to what they are now. You would not expect to even call a doctor at home now, or to be able to go to their office on New Year's Day. Well, I was telling this story to my foot doctor who is in that very same office as we went to those many years ago. He was aware of the doctor that had been in his office, and I had told him previously that I had been to the doctor in that office back in the fifties. As I was telling him the New Year's story recently, he was waiting for me to finish my story as he had a story to tell me.
His story is that on New Year's Day in 2011 his friend's little girl got a very bad splinter in her foot that needed medical care. My good podiatrist opened up his office on New Year's Day to tend to this little girl's foot. This was the very same office where I had taken my little Kathy those many years ago on the first day of the year so she could have her brow stitched up. So amazing! So personal care is not outdated. At least it is not outdated if you know the right doctor.
My sister Donna was telling me that it was a Sunday that she injured her foot and the doctor opened up his office to tend to her. She needed stitches in her foot. I remember the injury and her needing stitches, but I had forgotten that it was a Sunday. This is when she was a preteen or early teenager.
I needed stitches on my hand one time when I was a young teenager. I had been chasing one of our friends who had taken my ball. We were in the street near our house and I fell on my hand and hurt it bad. I went to our doctor and got a number of stitches in the palm of my hand. I can still see the scar. I baby sat in those days to be able to buy clothes and other things I needed. I paid for my stitches, all $19.00 of the bill with my baby sitting money. That is when we got thirty five cents an hour for baby sitting. Three hours was a whole dollar and five cents. I even baby sat the same evening that I got my stitches even though it hurt a lot.
One time when our son Griff was a young adult he cut his hand very bad on a machete that he had brought back from the Philippines. He had to call a taxi to take him to the emergency room as he was too injured to drive. He actually was not being careless when he injured his hand. It seems that the case for the machete had a worn out spot and he mistakenly put his hand on that part of the case. Those kind of injuries sure can hurt. His hand is fine now.
In the last 'Stitch in Time' I shared about the stitches my children got when they were little. As far as I can remember they each had one set of stitches as children. The same for my sisters and me. There have been stitches due to surgery but that is not the same as those unplanned events that need stitches. I guess no one would choose either though. The thing to do is to handle each case in a timely manner. Each thing we go through is part of our growth and hoping we don't make the same mistakes again that led to the need for a stitch in time.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The 23rd Psalm is one of my very favorite chapters in the Bible. When I go through valleys in my life I turn to this Psalm of David. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because He is with me. The rod and staff were tools the shepherd needed to protect his sheep. We are like sheep who have gone astray. We need the Lord to watch and guide us, to be with us.
The Lord is with us and ministers to our needs as the good shepherd does for his sheep. My cup overflows with His many blessings. His goodness and mercy are evident in my life. I want to dwell with Him forever.
These words come to mind when I begin to dwell on past hardships. I did go through a dark valley in my life and sometimes want to nurse my wounds. But I don't want to stay there and bring up too many negatives. I am in a better place now and it is because the Lord has brought me here. He nurses my wounds and brings healing.
My valley was hard on my family and I feel bad for what they had to go through. It was hard to find the bright sunshine in our lives when we needed to climb out of the valley. I thank the Lord for all he has done for me, watching and guiding me. I pray for the very best for my children. I'm thankful for the ones who do believe in the Lord. I pray for the ones who still need to come to Him. May He be their Shepherd to watch over them. May they call Him Lord.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Distracted Driving
Concerning the accident on the Strand in Coronado on Thursday, it is now said that there was no car jacking. I would say if it wasn't a stolen car then the driver would have been wise to stop for the Sheriff's deputies instead of speeding up. There would have been no chase scene and no accident.
The girl's mother said that maybe her daughter got scared, the way they were chasing her. I'm getting this information from this morning's paper. I think that people need to think about what they will do in difficult situations while driving. Young people need to realize that they need to stop for law enforcement who are just doing their job. It seems that some young people think of the police as the enemy, out to get them. I think that most law enforcement officers have the good of the citizens in mind when doing their jobs.
If you take the responsibility of driving seriously think ahead of time what you will do if you have an accident. Do not leave the scene of an accident as that will make you guilty even if the accident was not your fault. Watch out for bikes and pedestrians too. Do not text and drive or use the phone at all while driving. Distracted driving causes accidents. I have seen someone put on makeup while driving down the freeway, even with children in the car. Yikes!!
As pedestrians we have barely escaped being run over by drivers who were on their cell phones. We were thankful not to have been hit. We, being my daughter and me. I don't know if my husband has had any close calls with bad drivers yet. We are pedestrians as we take public transportation many days. But even those with vehicles are pedestrians on occasion.
Another thought on the bad accident on Thursday. If it had not been reported as a car jacking in the first place there would not have been a need for the deputy to give chase. That needs to be accounted for. Also the driver deliberately sideswiped the patrol car and sped away so that looks pretty guilty to me.
I'm glad officials take their time to get all of the facts straight. They spent hours and hours at the scene of the tragic accident to piece it all together. I'm glad I don't have to figure things out. I appreciate our law enforcement officers. Police and Sheriff's deputies have a thankless job. They need our prayers as they go about their many activities so that they can safely go home to their loved ones each day.
The girl's mother said that maybe her daughter got scared, the way they were chasing her. I'm getting this information from this morning's paper. I think that people need to think about what they will do in difficult situations while driving. Young people need to realize that they need to stop for law enforcement who are just doing their job. It seems that some young people think of the police as the enemy, out to get them. I think that most law enforcement officers have the good of the citizens in mind when doing their jobs.
If you take the responsibility of driving seriously think ahead of time what you will do if you have an accident. Do not leave the scene of an accident as that will make you guilty even if the accident was not your fault. Watch out for bikes and pedestrians too. Do not text and drive or use the phone at all while driving. Distracted driving causes accidents. I have seen someone put on makeup while driving down the freeway, even with children in the car. Yikes!!
As pedestrians we have barely escaped being run over by drivers who were on their cell phones. We were thankful not to have been hit. We, being my daughter and me. I don't know if my husband has had any close calls with bad drivers yet. We are pedestrians as we take public transportation many days. But even those with vehicles are pedestrians on occasion.
Another thought on the bad accident on Thursday. If it had not been reported as a car jacking in the first place there would not have been a need for the deputy to give chase. That needs to be accounted for. Also the driver deliberately sideswiped the patrol car and sped away so that looks pretty guilty to me.
I'm glad officials take their time to get all of the facts straight. They spent hours and hours at the scene of the tragic accident to piece it all together. I'm glad I don't have to figure things out. I appreciate our law enforcement officers. Police and Sheriff's deputies have a thankless job. They need our prayers as they go about their many activities so that they can safely go home to their loved ones each day.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Just As I Am
In Reading Rituals I wrote about enjoying the morning newspaper each morning with my cup of tea. I also mentioned some magazines and books that I have read. But something is missing in this picture. The most important reading ritual I could have would be reading the Word of God.
I do read the Bible, but I can't say that I have been as consistent as I would like to be. Laura and I enjoy reading the Bible and praying together. We begin to be consistent in our reading and prayer time and then we skip some days. Then we have to begin all over again on our ritual together. In the meantime she does her own reading and studying.
Paul has been faithful in reading the Bible for many years. He reads through the whole Bible almost every year. Oh to be so faithful. I confess that I have begrudged him for this in years past since he would not read it with me. It is almost like I blamed him for my failure to be so consistent. I needed someone to lead me in Bible and prayer time. It is not just that either. I wanted family devotions and tried to make that happen. I did my best in a way, but wish I had done better. Our daughters love the Lord. Our sons needed more guidance to come to believe what is truth. I was a baby Christian and needed to mature. Maybe I needed a mentor myself.
Enough years have gone by now and I better understand why some things were the way they were in our family. I am also stronger in my faith so try to let go of some things I can not change. One thing is certain, we can not change other people. I can fuss all I want, but that is not going to change anything. I need to admit my own mistakes and move on. God is the only one who can make a real difference in our lives. I'm so glad that I have Him in my life. I'm so glad that Jesus saved me and he loves me.
I'm thinking of the old favorite, sung at revivals, "Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidds't me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
"Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" The song goes on for three more verses. Text by Charlotte Elliot. Music by William B. Bradbury.
"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37
I do read the Bible, but I can't say that I have been as consistent as I would like to be. Laura and I enjoy reading the Bible and praying together. We begin to be consistent in our reading and prayer time and then we skip some days. Then we have to begin all over again on our ritual together. In the meantime she does her own reading and studying.
Paul has been faithful in reading the Bible for many years. He reads through the whole Bible almost every year. Oh to be so faithful. I confess that I have begrudged him for this in years past since he would not read it with me. It is almost like I blamed him for my failure to be so consistent. I needed someone to lead me in Bible and prayer time. It is not just that either. I wanted family devotions and tried to make that happen. I did my best in a way, but wish I had done better. Our daughters love the Lord. Our sons needed more guidance to come to believe what is truth. I was a baby Christian and needed to mature. Maybe I needed a mentor myself.
Enough years have gone by now and I better understand why some things were the way they were in our family. I am also stronger in my faith so try to let go of some things I can not change. One thing is certain, we can not change other people. I can fuss all I want, but that is not going to change anything. I need to admit my own mistakes and move on. God is the only one who can make a real difference in our lives. I'm so glad that I have Him in my life. I'm so glad that Jesus saved me and he loves me.
I'm thinking of the old favorite, sung at revivals, "Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidds't me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
"Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!" The song goes on for three more verses. Text by Charlotte Elliot. Music by William B. Bradbury.
"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Reading Rituals
I remember my grandparents had the newspaper which I sometimes looked at as a child. I don't remember if it was the morning or evening paper. They had some magazines I enjoyed also, such as The Saturday Evening Post. I was a slow reader so it is amazing that I even picked up the paper or any magazines. But there are things of interest to see, even for a slow reader. I don't remember my parents having any newspapers in the house in those days. When I was able to do so I purchased some magazines. First it was children's magazines and then things of interest to teenagers. But I enjoyed The Ladies Home Journal as a young teenager too. My mother must have liked magazines also, as she had a lot of old copies, some as old as me. Somewhere we still have one of the oldest copies of Life magazine, dated the month I was born.
Paul's parents had a lot of books as his mother was an avid reader. Laura must have received this gene as she is a serious reader too. We didn't have TV when our children were young so they enjoyed books, even the encyclopedia. And I enjoyed my other publications such as the San Diego Union and my magazines.
Image credits: inkyfingerz; mynaiale; Fríða Rún
Sunday, January 2, 2011
We Begin the New Year -2011
Happy New Year!! Yesterday, on the first, we were up very early so we could be on our way at five a.m. Actually it was ten minutes after five when we finally left our Court as I had to go back to find my hat. Then I still wondered whether or not we did everything that needs to be done when we are going to be gone for the day. All safety measures taken, all cats cared for, all our things we need with us? This was just for a one day trip. Can you imagine what it is like for a real trip? Actually someone has to stay home when it is for a long trip as we have too many pets to care for.
The sun was rising as we headed east on Interstate 8 over the mountains. We saw a beautiful sunrise as we reached the desert. It was a jacket kind of day for Laura and me. The guys don't seem to get cold very easy so were comfortable with shirt sleeves. Their minds were on birding in the Salton Sea area. We didn't do our usual walk at the waters edge as they were after a certain bird for the day. They finally found the Bean Goose towards the end of the day. This is a goose from Europe so it would have been way off course.Between Paul and Bill they found over eighty kinds of birds for the day. Paul had 77, possibly more. Laura also did some birding with them. But I mostly enjoyed reading and seeing the scenery for the day. We went on a lot of country roads as we have many times in the past. That is what birders do when they have certain birds in mind. It is called chasing a bird when they are looking for a certain bird. You could hear hunters in certain spots too. But we hunt with binoculars or scopes. If we had the right camera we could get some shots that way, but not with a gun. We have family members that are hunters so I will not be negative about hunters. It is just not our idea of fun.
Paul, Laura, Bill and another birder saw a Bald Eagle kill a Snow Goose. They were watching Snow Geese by the thousands, lots of White Pelicans and numerous other birds when this happened. That is when they were looking for the Bean Goose. It was quite a while later that they found the only Bean Goose to be found. Other birders were looking for him too, including one gentleman from Canada.In our travels of the day we found ourselves on highway 111 at 1:11 pm on 1-1-11. I'm not big into numbers but this is a fun fact. Some people planned their weddings for this date. And some babies were born on this easy to remember day. The first baby of the year was featured in the local news. He was born ten seconds after midnight. They were aiming for a tax deduction by having the baby in the old year, but babies have their own schedule. We have our own little December baby since we have our first great grandson, born on the 13th.
On the way home yesterday we enjoyed a sunset as we headed west on the Interstate. It was dark when we left home in the morning and it was dark when we arrived home last night around seven pm. It was an enjoyable day with family, a nice way to begin the new year.
This morning in church we enjoyed the singing and the sermon. The message by Pastor Carey was a blessing to me. A good way to begin the year. We learned about God's holiness, our sin, God's grace and our faith. God is Holy. We are sinful, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. God's grace is what he has done for us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 Our faith is what we must do in response to what God has done for us. We must receive this gift by faith. We need Christ as our Saviour. We don't want to be caught dead without a Saviour. This is so simple, but we want to complicate it and make our own set of rules. Why don't we just believe what is truth? It will save us. Our works don't save us. Only God can save us from our sins. He loves us!! :)Image credits: colin brown; Maggiejumps; Maggiejumps; Billy Lindblom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Lessons Learned in My 74 years Part Two
31. I'm thankful for being allowed to live in this beautiful, bountiful country.
32. I appreciate a roof over our heads, enough to eat, clothes to wear and all our abundance.
33. We need to appreciate the freedom we have in this great country. We have freedom to worship as we see fit. We have freedom to speak our own opinions. We are so blessed!
34. I'm thankful for my husband and children. I'm thankful for all my family.
35. I'm happy to enjoy friends of all ages. I have long time friends that I have known since I was a child and teenager. My friend Madeline is like a sister to me. She is my sister in the Lord. I've known her since third grade. I have newer friends that have also been a blessing.
36. I have learned to appreciate having to use public transportation. There are so many interesting people on the bus. And I have one good friend that I made while riding the bus.
37. We have two church families and I am learning new lessons each week. Paul and I have been part of First Baptist Church in Coronado since 1961, except for the five or six years we went to Midway Baptist Church. We have been back at FBC since 1984. It has been such a blessing to be part of this church family. We have recently been going to Westview Bible Church in Imperial Beach for several reasons. We have friends there and this is where Laura wants to go. It is nice to go as a family and it is closer to home than Coronado. Both churches have pastors that we like a lot. They teach the Word every week and we appreciate this. I do not want to lose touch with my Coronado church family as this is so much a part of me. But I also love the dear people at Westview.
38. I am thankful that Paul survived serious health problems ten years ago. He survived a heart attack on Christmas 2000. He had to have his aortic heart valve replaced which we had known he needed earlier. He also had a double bypass and they would have done more but the surgery was long enough. They also repaired an aortic aneurysm that was found during the surgery. While he was recovering problems arose that caused him to need a pacemaker- defibrillator. He was in the hospital twenty one days. Thankfully he has recovered nicely. He is on his second pacemaker-defibrillator as they need changing after a while. This was all a learning experience.
39. As we get older we learn to watch our steps. We all have falls but Paul had a very bad fall in January of 2006. He was headed to one of his walks along the bike path in Imperial Beach when he slipped in some mud and found himself on the ground. He knew he couldn't stand when he saw the position of his foot. It was facing the wrong way and obviously something was broken. Some nice people came to his aid and called 911 for him. It was several hours before a doctor at the hospital reached me to tell me that he had a broken ankle. I had been thinking he was gone a long time. He came home that evening with the help of friends. We were able to get a wheel chair from one of our neighbors as he was not able to use crutches. The following week he had surgery on his ankle which required screws to hold it together. He had many visits to UCSD Medical Center to have his ankle checked and his cast changed. He was in the wheel chair for several months and it was a real learning experience for me.
40. Some of the biggest learning experiences for me come in time of need. We have been blessed with rides to the hospital whenever they were needed. When Paul was in the hospital so long after heart surgery I had a ride with various friends almost every day. I rarely had to go the distance on the bus. Again in 2006 when he had the broken ankle and had to go to his appointments every week we were blessed with friends to help us, wheelchair and all. We went to Coronado one time with the wheelchair on the bus. I respect people who continually have to deal with a wheelchair.
41. As we age we have to learn about the high cost of prescriptions, despite insurance. Thankfully there are some low cost meds involved too. I laugh when I think about Mom complaining about the one small prescription she had to pay for.
42. Dealing with Mom and then Paul's father, when they got older, were two of the most difficult experiences. Paul's Dad was a wonderful father-in-law and respected by many people. He lived longer than three wives. But his last year was difficult for him and we did what we could to help. Thankfully Paul's brother Charlie managed a lot of things which was a real blessing to me. This is when my husband Paul was showing signs of serious health problems. A few years before that we had the experience of trying to help Mom. It would take a book to share this story. She was a hard worker and very independent all her life. She and I often but heads with each other. But I loved her despite the battle. She also lived longer than her two husbands.
43. Thankfully I chose not to smoke or drink when I could have easily gone that direction as a teenager. Did I learn not to do this or just not enjoy either? I tried both and I did not really like them. My dad smoked so I grew up with this in the house. The smell didn't bother me when I was young but I can't stand it now. I was also exposed to Dad and his friends enjoying their drinks, I guess mainly beer, when I was a child. I hated the taste. Dad stopped smoking the last ten years of his life. He died much too young after working hard all his life. He was only 53 when we lost him to cancer. He was a dear Daddy to me. Oh, Paul would not have married me if I had smoked.
44. One thing I remember my mother saying is that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. I also remember that she didn't like people to say shut up. I don't even like it when it is just part of young people's slang which you hear on TV.
45. Learning not to say bad words would be a good lesson for many people on the bus or on TV now days. Grandma washed my sister's mouth out with soap for a small infraction of this offense. So I knew to be careful around Grandma. Actually I never had a garbage mouth but wasn't totally innocent either. When we didn't live with Grandma we learned a few words we shouldn't say. But I was usually with nice kids that did not talk that way. If I had done it Paul would have put an end to it.
46. We can learn to do new things if need be. As a teenager I baby sat out of necessity. I needed things my parents could not afford. As I got to be an older teenager I didn't desire to have a career or even further my education beyond high school. All I ever desired was to be married and have my own family. I got married very young and had my first baby before I was nineteen. As need be I often baby sat to earn a little extra money. When the children were a little older I worked for more than a year at Avenue Variety Store in Coronado. It was an old time dime store. A lot of lessons learned there.
47. In the late '90s we went through a difficult financial situation that was so bad that our church helped us. Talk about being thankful! Also one of my friends at church helped me get a job helping an elderly lady in the Cays. I did that for a few months until she needed more skilled help. Then I got a child care job in the Cays to help our financial situation. I was used to doing child care as I had been doing it since I was a young teen. Still no end to lessons learned in life. Maybe being humbled is one of them.
48. Some of these stories overlap each other, such as Paul's health situation showed up as his Dad's last year was happening. I was also working in the Cays during that time. Part of that time we did not have a car until Paul's Dad gave us his car. We had so many blessings mixed with struggles. We are thankful for our church family, all of our family and friends who have walked through the valley with us. Those loved ones that spent time in the hospital with us or gave us rides in time of need are so appreciated. We were blessed with an inheritance from Dad which covered a lot of needs. More than this, God's love covers it all!
32. I appreciate a roof over our heads, enough to eat, clothes to wear and all our abundance.
33. We need to appreciate the freedom we have in this great country. We have freedom to worship as we see fit. We have freedom to speak our own opinions. We are so blessed!
34. I'm thankful for my husband and children. I'm thankful for all my family.
35. I'm happy to enjoy friends of all ages. I have long time friends that I have known since I was a child and teenager. My friend Madeline is like a sister to me. She is my sister in the Lord. I've known her since third grade. I have newer friends that have also been a blessing.
36. I have learned to appreciate having to use public transportation. There are so many interesting people on the bus. And I have one good friend that I made while riding the bus.
37. We have two church families and I am learning new lessons each week. Paul and I have been part of First Baptist Church in Coronado since 1961, except for the five or six years we went to Midway Baptist Church. We have been back at FBC since 1984. It has been such a blessing to be part of this church family. We have recently been going to Westview Bible Church in Imperial Beach for several reasons. We have friends there and this is where Laura wants to go. It is nice to go as a family and it is closer to home than Coronado. Both churches have pastors that we like a lot. They teach the Word every week and we appreciate this. I do not want to lose touch with my Coronado church family as this is so much a part of me. But I also love the dear people at Westview.
38. I am thankful that Paul survived serious health problems ten years ago. He survived a heart attack on Christmas 2000. He had to have his aortic heart valve replaced which we had known he needed earlier. He also had a double bypass and they would have done more but the surgery was long enough. They also repaired an aortic aneurysm that was found during the surgery. While he was recovering problems arose that caused him to need a pacemaker- defibrillator. He was in the hospital twenty one days. Thankfully he has recovered nicely. He is on his second pacemaker-defibrillator as they need changing after a while. This was all a learning experience.
39. As we get older we learn to watch our steps. We all have falls but Paul had a very bad fall in January of 2006. He was headed to one of his walks along the bike path in Imperial Beach when he slipped in some mud and found himself on the ground. He knew he couldn't stand when he saw the position of his foot. It was facing the wrong way and obviously something was broken. Some nice people came to his aid and called 911 for him. It was several hours before a doctor at the hospital reached me to tell me that he had a broken ankle. I had been thinking he was gone a long time. He came home that evening with the help of friends. We were able to get a wheel chair from one of our neighbors as he was not able to use crutches. The following week he had surgery on his ankle which required screws to hold it together. He had many visits to UCSD Medical Center to have his ankle checked and his cast changed. He was in the wheel chair for several months and it was a real learning experience for me.
40. Some of the biggest learning experiences for me come in time of need. We have been blessed with rides to the hospital whenever they were needed. When Paul was in the hospital so long after heart surgery I had a ride with various friends almost every day. I rarely had to go the distance on the bus. Again in 2006 when he had the broken ankle and had to go to his appointments every week we were blessed with friends to help us, wheelchair and all. We went to Coronado one time with the wheelchair on the bus. I respect people who continually have to deal with a wheelchair.
41. As we age we have to learn about the high cost of prescriptions, despite insurance. Thankfully there are some low cost meds involved too. I laugh when I think about Mom complaining about the one small prescription she had to pay for.
42. Dealing with Mom and then Paul's father, when they got older, were two of the most difficult experiences. Paul's Dad was a wonderful father-in-law and respected by many people. He lived longer than three wives. But his last year was difficult for him and we did what we could to help. Thankfully Paul's brother Charlie managed a lot of things which was a real blessing to me. This is when my husband Paul was showing signs of serious health problems. A few years before that we had the experience of trying to help Mom. It would take a book to share this story. She was a hard worker and very independent all her life. She and I often but heads with each other. But I loved her despite the battle. She also lived longer than her two husbands.
43. Thankfully I chose not to smoke or drink when I could have easily gone that direction as a teenager. Did I learn not to do this or just not enjoy either? I tried both and I did not really like them. My dad smoked so I grew up with this in the house. The smell didn't bother me when I was young but I can't stand it now. I was also exposed to Dad and his friends enjoying their drinks, I guess mainly beer, when I was a child. I hated the taste. Dad stopped smoking the last ten years of his life. He died much too young after working hard all his life. He was only 53 when we lost him to cancer. He was a dear Daddy to me. Oh, Paul would not have married me if I had smoked.
44. One thing I remember my mother saying is that if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all. I also remember that she didn't like people to say shut up. I don't even like it when it is just part of young people's slang which you hear on TV.
45. Learning not to say bad words would be a good lesson for many people on the bus or on TV now days. Grandma washed my sister's mouth out with soap for a small infraction of this offense. So I knew to be careful around Grandma. Actually I never had a garbage mouth but wasn't totally innocent either. When we didn't live with Grandma we learned a few words we shouldn't say. But I was usually with nice kids that did not talk that way. If I had done it Paul would have put an end to it.
46. We can learn to do new things if need be. As a teenager I baby sat out of necessity. I needed things my parents could not afford. As I got to be an older teenager I didn't desire to have a career or even further my education beyond high school. All I ever desired was to be married and have my own family. I got married very young and had my first baby before I was nineteen. As need be I often baby sat to earn a little extra money. When the children were a little older I worked for more than a year at Avenue Variety Store in Coronado. It was an old time dime store. A lot of lessons learned there.
47. In the late '90s we went through a difficult financial situation that was so bad that our church helped us. Talk about being thankful! Also one of my friends at church helped me get a job helping an elderly lady in the Cays. I did that for a few months until she needed more skilled help. Then I got a child care job in the Cays to help our financial situation. I was used to doing child care as I had been doing it since I was a young teen. Still no end to lessons learned in life. Maybe being humbled is one of them.
48. Some of these stories overlap each other, such as Paul's health situation showed up as his Dad's last year was happening. I was also working in the Cays during that time. Part of that time we did not have a car until Paul's Dad gave us his car. We had so many blessings mixed with struggles. We are thankful for our church family, all of our family and friends who have walked through the valley with us. Those loved ones that spent time in the hospital with us or gave us rides in time of need are so appreciated. We were blessed with an inheritance from Dad which covered a lot of needs. More than this, God's love covers it all!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lessons I Have Learned in My 74 Years Part One
Since I'm going to be seventy four on December 2nd it is a good time to think on lessons I have learned in all these years.
1. "Treat others as you would want to be treated." This comes from what is often called the Golden Rule in the Bible. Luke 6:31
2. "Be kind to one another."
3. "Love one another." All lessons from Sunday School.
4. We are to share and be generous as is possible. I always liked to let my sisters have the biggest piece of pie or cake so I could peacefully enjoy mine.
5. "Do not covet." Be happy with what you have. We don't have to have everything we want.
6. Be faithful and true to your word.
7. "Love the Lord your God, have no other gods."
8. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
9. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 That includes me.
10. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
11. "Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Each one of us.
12. These lessons took a while to sink in and to be personal for me. I may have been in Sunday School all my life but I didn't really hear the message until I was a young adult. I thank God for a praying Grandma. When I read old letters from Grandma I can see she was trying to get the message across to us.
13. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
14. Man made religions can not save us. Works don't save us. Only God can save us.
15. Then after we are saved we want to work for the Lord.
!6. Too soon old, too late smart. I wish I had learned so many lessons earlier in life. I wish I had known how to share the love of God more with my children.
17. I love, love, love my family and would like to go back and do some things different than I did when we were all younger.
18. Love people but don't count on any one person to make you happy. Only God can fill us with Peace, Hope and Joy!
19. But we can still treasure our friends and family. We need to share the good news of our Lord's love with them. People are all that we can take to heaven with us. Not things.
20. I still need to learn to share the good news clearly. I don't want to lose the opportunity.
21. Both of my grandmothers were not afraid to share what they believed with us. One shared Jesus love, and the other shared her Jehovah Witness belief. Thankfully I did not follow the way of the cult. This Grandmother was a dear lady despite her teachings. She was one of the original Jehovah Witnesses from the early 1900s. She went door to door well into her 80s. If we would be so dedicated to our Lord.
22. When Paul's Dad became a Christian in his 50s he became a very dedicated man of God. At that time Paul's Mother turned to her Christian Science belief. She had sent Paul and his brother to the Christian Science Sunday School in the earlier years when they were young, but she had not been too serious about that belief until after Paul Sr. was a Christian. She used to go to the doctor but when she became a more serious Christian Scientist she did not go to the doctor any more. This is sad since she ended up with breast cancer. She did get some care from a Christian Science practitioner and went to a sanitarium similar to a hospice. She died on her 60th birthday. We understand that Paul's Dad led her to the Lord before she died. We are thankful for this.
21. When Paul Sr. became a Christian we had been going to First Baptist Church in Coronado for around five years. He used to drive us to church sometimes, or at least he drove the children to Sunday School sometimes. After a while he decided to go too. You never know what will touch somebody's heart to lead them to church and to the Lord.
22.Thankfully Paul had read a little Gideons New Testament that he had received at school when he was quite young. He wrote his name in it where there is a place for a confession of faith. He believed and was saved. When he was a teenager he went to one of the churches in Coronado that had a good choir since he liked to sing.
23. Even though I didn't accept the Lord until I was a young adult I was attracted to church and the youth group at our church. I did not know I needed to profess the Lord as Savior. I probably thought I was a Christian. Thankfully I eventually got the message. I don't remember hearing this at the Methodist Church where I went for years. I will not blame the church though as I may not have been listening to what I needed to hear.
24. I continue to learn life lessons each day. We never stop learning. Who would have ever believed I would be at the computer writing. I avoided learning the computer for a long time. Laura still has to rescue me on a daily basis.
25 We can begin to learn patience but I don't know if it is possible to master it. At least I'm learning not to get so upset if I miss a bus. Buses are going to be missed in this life and it is not the end of the world.
26. Enjoy your children while they are with you. They grow up fast. And don't make a habit of losing your cool in front of them. Lesson learned the hard way.
27. Appreciate your parents. It is too late to thank them when they are gone.
28. Remember to thank a teacher. I had many good teachers but do not remember thanking them. I used to go back to the school to visit at least one favorite teacher though. May God Bless good teachers.
29. Listen to the sermon on Sundays, (or Saturdays). Write notes on the message to help remember.
30. Enjoy Christian fellowship.
To be continued :)
1. "Treat others as you would want to be treated." This comes from what is often called the Golden Rule in the Bible. Luke 6:31
2. "Be kind to one another."
3. "Love one another." All lessons from Sunday School.
4. We are to share and be generous as is possible. I always liked to let my sisters have the biggest piece of pie or cake so I could peacefully enjoy mine.
5. "Do not covet." Be happy with what you have. We don't have to have everything we want.
6. Be faithful and true to your word.
7. "Love the Lord your God, have no other gods."
8. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
9. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 That includes me.
10. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
11. "Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Each one of us.
12. These lessons took a while to sink in and to be personal for me. I may have been in Sunday School all my life but I didn't really hear the message until I was a young adult. I thank God for a praying Grandma. When I read old letters from Grandma I can see she was trying to get the message across to us.
13. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
14. Man made religions can not save us. Works don't save us. Only God can save us.
15. Then after we are saved we want to work for the Lord.
!6. Too soon old, too late smart. I wish I had learned so many lessons earlier in life. I wish I had known how to share the love of God more with my children.
17. I love, love, love my family and would like to go back and do some things different than I did when we were all younger.
18. Love people but don't count on any one person to make you happy. Only God can fill us with Peace, Hope and Joy!
19. But we can still treasure our friends and family. We need to share the good news of our Lord's love with them. People are all that we can take to heaven with us. Not things.
20. I still need to learn to share the good news clearly. I don't want to lose the opportunity.
21. Both of my grandmothers were not afraid to share what they believed with us. One shared Jesus love, and the other shared her Jehovah Witness belief. Thankfully I did not follow the way of the cult. This Grandmother was a dear lady despite her teachings. She was one of the original Jehovah Witnesses from the early 1900s. She went door to door well into her 80s. If we would be so dedicated to our Lord.
22. When Paul's Dad became a Christian in his 50s he became a very dedicated man of God. At that time Paul's Mother turned to her Christian Science belief. She had sent Paul and his brother to the Christian Science Sunday School in the earlier years when they were young, but she had not been too serious about that belief until after Paul Sr. was a Christian. She used to go to the doctor but when she became a more serious Christian Scientist she did not go to the doctor any more. This is sad since she ended up with breast cancer. She did get some care from a Christian Science practitioner and went to a sanitarium similar to a hospice. She died on her 60th birthday. We understand that Paul's Dad led her to the Lord before she died. We are thankful for this.
21. When Paul Sr. became a Christian we had been going to First Baptist Church in Coronado for around five years. He used to drive us to church sometimes, or at least he drove the children to Sunday School sometimes. After a while he decided to go too. You never know what will touch somebody's heart to lead them to church and to the Lord.
22.Thankfully Paul had read a little Gideons New Testament that he had received at school when he was quite young. He wrote his name in it where there is a place for a confession of faith. He believed and was saved. When he was a teenager he went to one of the churches in Coronado that had a good choir since he liked to sing.
23. Even though I didn't accept the Lord until I was a young adult I was attracted to church and the youth group at our church. I did not know I needed to profess the Lord as Savior. I probably thought I was a Christian. Thankfully I eventually got the message. I don't remember hearing this at the Methodist Church where I went for years. I will not blame the church though as I may not have been listening to what I needed to hear.
24. I continue to learn life lessons each day. We never stop learning. Who would have ever believed I would be at the computer writing. I avoided learning the computer for a long time. Laura still has to rescue me on a daily basis.
25 We can begin to learn patience but I don't know if it is possible to master it. At least I'm learning not to get so upset if I miss a bus. Buses are going to be missed in this life and it is not the end of the world.
26. Enjoy your children while they are with you. They grow up fast. And don't make a habit of losing your cool in front of them. Lesson learned the hard way.
27. Appreciate your parents. It is too late to thank them when they are gone.
28. Remember to thank a teacher. I had many good teachers but do not remember thanking them. I used to go back to the school to visit at least one favorite teacher though. May God Bless good teachers.
29. Listen to the sermon on Sundays, (or Saturdays). Write notes on the message to help remember.
30. Enjoy Christian fellowship.
To be continued :)
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