The Hearth

Aww…some Mondays

Day Trip – Siloam Springs, AR

Recently my wife and I made a day trip to near-by Siloam Springs, Arkansas which is only a thirty minute drive from our house. Siloam Springs main claim to fame is home to John Brown University, a small liberal arts college. Siloam also has a beautiful park in the center of town and many of the surrounding buildings are undergoing renovation and upscale shops and restaurants are becoming more common. We had lunch at an eatery called 28 Springs, which is located in an Art Deco structure that was formerly car dealership. The food was outstanding and reasonably priced. My wife enjoyed a salad while in savored a Cranberry Quesadilla sandwich. After lunch we shopped a couple of stores, strolled across the street to the park and captured a few images. We left our house about 10:30 a.m. and were back home by 2:30 p.m. I am sure we will return to explore a little more of our neighboring town in the Ozarks.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

The dog days of summer signal the ending of hot weather and a reminder that fall is just around the corner, so the theme for the 4M gang this week is end of summer songs. I thought I would start with a newer arrangement of a classic. Originally released by Johnny Mercer with Jo Stafford, “Autumn Leaves” has been covered by a multitude of super stars and now has a new arrangement by Eric Clapton. Enjoy.

One super group that came out of my young adulthood was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. When the group split Neil Young released a couple of great albums. One song that fits our theme is Harvest Moon.

Coming straight out of the late sixties was a mixed quartet super-group. The Mamas & Papas biggest hit was California Dreamin’.

One final blast from the past. Nearly every child of the sixties owned the Simon and Grafunkle album Sounds of Silence. One lovely tune to come out of that effort is “The Leaves are Green”. Have a blessed week.

Aww Mondays – Patriot Lucy

Happy Socks Part IV

Some of you already know the significance of my “Happy Sox”. If you are unfamiliar with the story then please scroll back to my March posts for the entire saga. The long story short is that in between March and September of 2019 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and there was a cancerous tumor in my abdomen that was blocking access to and preventing treatment of the prostate. In October of 2019 the tumor was removed and it weighed 31 lbs!!! After a brief recovery period, radiation treatment of the prostate began in December and continued until the middle of February.

Also in February I had my first post-surgery CT scan to verify that there was no evidence of a return of the tumor. The results were clear and I was scheduled to have my second scan six months later. In early March lab work indicated that my PSA level had dropped significantly, indicating that the radiation treatments were doing their job. In June additional lab tests showed additional reduction of PSA to the point of being insignificant so all I personally needed to do was have that second CT scan and if it was clear, I would declare myself in remission. Doctors will never declare you cured of cancer.

Fast forward to August 11 and my second post-surgery CT scan. The results would take a week to be sent of the surgeon in Little Rock for his review. Last Thursday I had a phone visit scheduled and the call came right on time. The surgeon informed me that he saw NO sign of anything suspicious…ALL CLEAR!!! I will have scans every six months for a couple of years, but it is all good and I have more “Happy Sox”.

God has answered my every prayer. He put an incredible medical team in my life. He gave me the best care-giver on the planet in the person of my wife and the Lord spent forty years recruiting an army of friends and relatives that were praying for my family through this whole ordeal. My prayer was the God be glorified regardless of the outcome. If He had chosen to take me to my heavenly home, I only asked that my life be a testimony to His love and grace. If He chose to heal me, then I would have a testimony of His healing power and that the Creator is still in the miracle business. To God be the glory!!!

Monday’s Music Moves Me

It’s a freedom of choice week at 4M and in light of my happy news I am going to focus on “Praise and Worship” and there is no better place to start than with “Praise the Lord.” There is only One worthy of our praise and worship regardless of our situation.

I have no idea why God has healed me except that He has a plan for my life and my work is not complete. I believe all of us are living on borrowed time and He expects us to redeem it wisely. All I can say is “It’s Good to Be Alive”.

Like everyone else, my life has been filled with unwise decisions, sinful acts, and activities that make me unworthy of God’s love, but the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ provided me with a pathway to eternal life through the mercy, grace, and forgiveness that is the living Son of God. The Cross has made me “Flawless”.

It is obvious that my life journey is not complete, so I only have one choice and that would be… “I Then Shall Live”. Have a blessed week.

Summer Blaze

Aww Mondays

Higher Education

This past week we grilled steaks and shrimp for our two grand daughters as their farewell meal prior to heading off to college. The one on the far right will be a junior and she is on track to graduate a semester early. She already has plans to pursue a masters degree and possibly a clinical doctorate in Sports Training/Medicine. The other grand daughter will begin her college career tomorrow. She also wants to work in sports training and is our family athlete. She has a track scholarship and will continue her career as a high jumper. All of us are proud of the girls.

My wife and I usually make a trip or two to see the older grand daughter and now we are making plans to attend a couple of track meets next spring to see the youngest one compete at the college level. Let the adventure begin.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week is a free choice week at 4M so I think I will just settle into some of my favorite music, Gospel and Contemporary Christian and let the sounds soothe the soul. We live in a disturbing world and I find great comfort in inspirational music, but I find the most comfort in the One who is the inspiration for the music. Have a blessed week.