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The video posted in the entry below this entry is my friend Kim. Please enjoy it.

a new Karaoke performance

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FAREWELL KITTY

Unfortunately the kitty died yesterday. He tried very hard to live but just couldn't over come how sick he was nor now neglected he'd been. He had the sweetest temperament for a cat. We enjoyed him for the short time we had him and he enjoyed us.

MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS

There we were last Sunday minding our own business. We ran errands and on our way home we see this very emaciated kitten struggling across the street. We got to his spot about the time he made it up the curb and into grass. Now, a few days ago, I'd been being grateful that we didn't have any more cats or dogs. So I say to Garry, "We are going to stop, right"? Of course he was already stopping.

I got out of the car and the poor little thing ran, sort of, but I could tell it was scared. I also knew that if Garry got out the kitten would be fine and I was right. It just laid there and watched as he approached. So I drove home with the kitten laying on his feet.

The kitten's eyes were a mess as you can see in the first picture. We bathed them often with boric acid eye wash. Monday I could not get him to the vet but did Tuesday. He gets antibiotics 2x a day and a special amino acid to help build up his immune system.

He wants so badly to have the dogs and other cats like him and they don't.

The second two pics were taken 72 hours after we got him.

Yesterday I told Garry about having been so grateful not to have more animals and here I had another. Same thing happened last time I was grateful for not having more so my sweet husband said, "God's trying to get you to stop limiting Him"! Need I say more....... :-)

BAGDAD

This is from the Bagdad Prayer Patrol. Sure wish our media would report this.

Letter from a Soldier
May 22, 2008
I have been praying with your Prayer Patrol for a long time and I got an email from a friend’s son who is in Iraq and I wanted to send you a copy of it to encourage you. Thanks for all your work. Suzanne

Soldier’s Letter:Thank you for sharing how so many people are praying…. to Him be all glory in this, as I am continually amazed at what He is doing! I tell you what Mom, things are happening over here!!! I have said this over the phone, but I will say it again here: I CANNOT believe the difference between when I first came here in 2005 and this deployment.

Things are far from perfect, and yet there has been such improvements, especially in security and safety, that I sometimes wonder if I am actually in the same country again.While many things have happened in terms of the efforts of our troops and on the Iraqi side too, I can only attribute these amazing changes to God’s work here, and I truly believe He has responded to the prayers of saints all around the globe who are praying for this country.

I think back to last deployment, when you had that month of prayer for Iraq, and how things have changed so dramatically even since then…. all I can say is, Praise the I Am Who I Am, for He truly holds the nations in His hands and the ways of men in His palms!

Please tell all you know, rather, plead with them, to keep praying. Now is the time, I believe, that we need prayer most desperately of all times. While things have improved so much and hope can actually be seen, there is still so many problems and, without His continual grace here, I can easily see all that has been done and all the sacrifices that have been made lost into chaos and complete anarchy. Much more important than the security and stability of Iraq or the safety of the troops over here, though, is what He has been doing in men’s hearts!
I am so very excited…here at the base I have been at even just for a month or two, already several men have given there lives to Christ Jesus. There are troops from many different commands, as well as many different nations, here and it has been amazing (and unexpected) to see all the different people who show up at the worship services and Bible studies.

On a personal note, I have been SO blessed to be meeting with our Chaplain and a couple of other dear Christian brothers almost every morning for prayer…. you don’t know how much this means, especially after not having much fellowship last deployment, and now being able to share so deeply and honestly and to pray for one another. It is so obvious that it has been His work in bringing us together and it is His grace that is pouring down on our lives now! All praise to the One Who was and is and is to come!

Before I close, here are my promised prayer requests. Please, please, do share them with any and all who will pray. Any you know, ask them to come before the Almighty, for it only He Who can truly change men’s hearts…. I have said it before and I am more convinced now than I was then, that the true battle, both here in Iraq and throughout this planet, the REAL fight, is with saints on their knees, humbly asking the Father to do what He and He alone is capable of doing. Human means will fail us, the things of this world will pass in time, and yet He is “my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91).

Prayer requests for my unit, 2D Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion:
-Diligence and discipline to do our jobs well, even over long months

-Humilty and wisdom both for the leaders in our Battalion, as their decisions affect the lives of many men

-Healing and comfort for the families of those deployed, as many are hurting and it is often made much worse by t he separation and anxiety of deployment

-Prayers for our enemies… Our Father loves the terrorists and the insurgents just as much as He loves the Marines and I have heard stoires, AMAZING stories, of terrorists coming to Christ Jesus… this reminds me of Paul and how God completely and radically changed his life

-On a personal note, please pray that I might be close knit to the Father, especially that I might have good devotions, short accounts for my sin, and that I might delight in trusting and fearing Him.
Bought at great price,Capt Rudd Olmstead, USMC

http://prayercentral.net/baghdad/?page_id=154

Laugh

My son is over today and told this story about his 3 year old daughter.

He was lying on his bed, without his shirt. His arm was above his head and Rachel came in and took one look at the hair under his arm and said, "Daddy, you have fur! I need to find the scissors so I can cut your fur".

In the pic she is helping make her mom's birthday cake.

DIRTY OLD SHOE

I showered and shaved.............
I adjusted my tie.

I got there and sat.............
In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer.........
As I closed my eyes.

I saw the shoe of the man next to me.....
Touching my own.

I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side......
I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine...
But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'.............
I thought, 'This man with the shoes.. has no pride.

They're dusty, worn, and scratched.
Even worse, there are holes on the side!'

'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.

The shoe man said a quiet 'Amen.'

I tried to focus on the prayer.......
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look ou r best..
When walking through that door?

Well, this certainly isn't it, I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended............
And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud......
Sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters.........
His hands were raised high.

The Lord could surely hear..
The shoe man's voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering.......
And what I threw in was steep

I watched as the shoe man reached....
Into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out..........
What the shoe man put in.

Then I heard a soft 'clink'
as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me..........
To tears, and that's no lie.

It was the same for the shoe man...
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service......
As is the custom here.

We m ust greet new visitors..
A nd show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow.............
And wanted to meet the shoe man.

So after the closing prayer........
I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark....
And his hair was truly a mess.

But I thanked him for coming........
For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie..........
I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'

There were tears in his eyes.......
But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.........
Wiping tears from his eyes.

I've been coming here for months....
And you're the first to say 'Hi.'

I know that my appearance.........
Is not like all the rest.

But I really do try.................
To always look my best.

I always clean and polish my shoes..
Before my very long walk.

But by the time I get here.........
They're dirty and dusty, like chal k.

My heart filled w ith pain............
and I swallowed to hide my tears.

As he continued to apologize.........
For daring to sit so near.

He said, When I get here...........
I know I must look a sight.

But I thought if I could touch you..
Then maybe our souls might unite.

I was silent for a moment............
Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison...
I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......
And taught me, in part

That the best of any man............
Is what is found in his heart.

The rest, I thought,................
This shoe man will never know.

Like just how thankful I really am...
That his dirty old shoe touched my soul