John 3:16

I have been attending a great Bible study of the

book of John.  I loved this little expansion of one of the

most memorized scriptures....I just had to share.

John 3:16 broken down....

God.......................the greatest lover

So loved................the greatest degree

The World.............the greatest company

That He gave........the greatest act

His only son...........the greatest gift

That whosoever.....the greatest opportunity

Believes in Him.....the greatest simplicity

Shall not perish......the greatest promise

But have................the greatest certainty

Eternal life.............the greatest possession

    John 3:16

Sister Makes Front Page News

Yesterday was really a special day.  Katie and I attended the 4th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event to Benefit "Women Who Care", held at Arrowhead Mall.  LeAnne Taylor of Channel 6 "Six in the Morning" was the speaker.  She is a breast cancer survivor herself and she offered inspiration, encouragement, hope, and humor to women with breast cancer.  LeAnne is wearing one of many silly wigs she has accumulated for Halloween costumes.  See wore some of them (one was even worn to church choir practice) when she lost her own hair from chemo.  She said, "You have to keep your sense of humor".  She continued to work through out her battle with breast cancer, even during chemotherapy.  She is an amazing lady.  The organization sponsored a luncheon, auction, and style show, as well.

  This is all fine and good, but the real star is, "My Sister".  I am so proud of her.  Carole was diagnosed with breast cancer in June of this year.  She has been so calm and brave through out this process.  She has completed her radiation treatments and she did not require chemotherapy.  We are so grateful for that.
 
The Muskogee Phoenix wrote a great article about her.  You can see it in yesterday's (10/15) paper, but here is a  bird's eye view.

    
 Not only did she make news in the paper, but she was a model in the style show...looking good Carole.

All of the models are cancer survivors.  I really liked this models outfit...colorful!

          Below are two of my favorite people...Dr. V and Diana, who were my

nursing instructors at NSU.  They cheered me on when I was struggling to

complete my BS in Nursing.  

Thanks ladies! It was so good to see you.

Oh, and this was a special photo op.  Carole and LeAnne were

visiting and I was able to get a quick picture of  the two

of them and Diane.

Katie and Nathan visited with Carter after
the style show.

Since, I can't seem to make my cursor go where
I want it to go, I will wrap this up and just let you look at the last three pictures.

I love you Carole and I am so glad you are my sister!

A Fleet of Trucks & Equipment

We have experienced some problems this week, here on the farm.  The weather does not always want to cooperate.  David planted a field of sorghum to chop into silage which would become the dairy cow feed.  He has been saying this is the best crop ever.  A large convoy of equipment rolled in here last Tuesday or Wednesday.  The workers tried to chop the forage, but the ground was too wet.  The guys all camped out at Marvel for a few days, waiting for sunshine and drying.  The sun finally showed it's face one day and the weather warmed up....things were looking up.  Hay was mowed in another field in preparation for baling, and actually the baling started.  Then, as one of my favorite old time Sunday School songs goes...

        "The rains came down, and the floods came up", "the rains came down and the floods came up" - and the BIG TRUCKS rolled away. (I just made that last part up, but you know that, don't you?).

You can't even imagine the coming and going of this many moving trucks and machinery.

There was a bagger to bag and store the silage, a chopper, a tool truck,

trucks to haul the silage, a truck to pull the large travel trailer the guys stay in

and more....all for naught.

There are many bales almost covered in water and windrows in the field.

The sorghum will likely lay to the ground and ruin as the creek continues to rise.

There they go home......it was not to be.

Discouraging? Yes.  Costly? Yes.  Are we going to fold over this ordeal? No. This is just all part of it...life that is, especially farm life. We are very thankful that we have the corn silage harvested and stored.  We will survive.  These words below are encouragement, and not meant for any despair.  For we know the Maker.

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" II Corinthians 4:8,9

             and another great scripture:

         "But my God shall supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Happy Birthday Katie

This is Katie in 1978
She was born October 6, 1977, in Muskogee.
This picture was taken for her first Easter,
and the little spot on her forehead
was left from Chicken Pox.
I think I can see a resemblance of Nathan
that I had not noticed before.

This is Katie now...all grown up.
She is married to Craig and they have three sons.
Katie is pretty, caring, fun, loving, and sings.
I have been so blessed with children, grandchildren,
and son and daughter in-laws.

Birthday Season

Birthdays are special, but the first birthday is an event.

Nathan Luke Osburn was born September 25, 2008.
He celebrated his first birthday with a party
with his brothers, parents, grands and great grands.

Josh and Andrew helped open the presents.

Awe, and big brother is helping Nate

check out the birthday cards.

"You people know I don't like hats," says Nathan.
"Okay, for a little sweets, I will do it".

"Not bad"

"Works better without the hat and using a spoon"
Nathan is cute, smiley, huggy, dimpled, and active.

:) :0 :0 :)

September and October birthdays
are abundant in our family.
We have so many I may forget one, but Happy Birthday
to those I am sure are in these months.....Kelly, Kasey, Carole,
Bill, Cortny, Lexi, Katie, Gracie, Gillan, Nathan,
Momma, Big Dale, and oh me too.
Gracie celebrated her 10th birthday, September 23, 2009.
Gracie is our special girl--our only granddaughter.
Gracie is funny, silly, beautiful, imaginative, and athletic.

This is Gracie now.

Gillan celebrated his 12th birthday, October 1, 2009
Gillan was our first grandchild. Gillan commented
when he last visited, how he had been
thinking that, it was him who first made us grandparents.
Gillan is handsome, bright, serious, loving, and musical.
This is Gillan now.

This is Gracie and Gillan then.....so cute and still are.

Great Grandpa - "Papa"

My Daddy, and Great Grandpa to my grandkids will be "91" in November.

Whew, glad you can't see the tobacco juice on Papa's chin.

It is very visible in full screen view.
And, might I say obnoxious in person.
Oh well, I'm sorry--it is just him...it truly is,
and at 91 you get to do whatever you want...I guess.

I tried my best to get a good picture of all three of Katie's boys with Papa, have I have mentioned, it is difficult to get all of them looking and smiling at the same time?