Palm sunday !!!

I hope you all were able to enjoy time with family today – a most Holy Day for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Saturday afternoon we were able to get together with some friends from Church and eat at P.F. Changs - thanks to a gift card we had received (highly recommend this place). That is a really nice place to eat and the waitress told me they do not use MSG on any of their food.
Afterwards, we drove from the restaurant to N.O. We spent Saturday night and most of Sunday at my parent’s house. It was a last minute decision type of thing. Bryan had a fever of 101.8 F and was feeling bad with a headache, so he stayed home with Robin’s parents. (Isn’t that a huge blessing, for kids to know both sets of grandparents and have a good relationship with them?!) We were able to see Aunt Eva and my brother, his wife and two youngest kids – as well as my parents. They are all doing okay. Good food and fellowship. It doesn’t get any better than that. We even had a lively discussion in the area of the concepts of fate, faith, free will and the idea that if it is your ‘time’ to die, no matter what course you have chosen up that the point, you are going to go. It was very interesting to cover such topics with family and to hear their individual takes. I would like to delve into this subject deeper on this post, but that would have to be a really long series that could potentially go on indefinitely. Personal ‘Destiny’ and our ability to alter ‘it’ – if ‘it’ even exists – is a fascinating thing to ponder. Personally, I find that I lean more towards the side that says you create your own destiny. I might have to discuss it one day soon. If any of you know of any good books which cover the aforementioned subject, please let me know.
The Garden is coming along slowly but surely. This garden is like the proverbial elephant (eat it one bite at a time) – you plant it a little at a time. I know it is a few weeks behind schedule - you just have to work with what you’ve got and when you can. I was able to get the okra, snap/lima beans and peas planted just before the hard rain came Saturday. That little did me in for the day. Tap water is okay, but rain water will make a garden jump up like no other. I believe I have finally decided on a name for it. How does “Almost Eden” sound? There are three sections to the garden, so the North (N) section would be called Almost Eden North, East (E) would be Almost Eden East and the West (W) would be the same. Nice little acronym – N.E.W. I figured it fits since this is a ‘new’ garden. We are even growing RED corn. The package says that this is the first of its kind. If any of you need okra seed, I have a ton from last year’s crop. I have two different varieties available if you would like a little or a lot. I have enough seed - enough to feed a small army. Don’t hesitate to ask/call/email. It is not too late to plant and it is a very easy vegetable to grow, little space is needed and it is even better to eat.

Tomorrow is another blood count check to see if we can proceed. I feel stronger, but not back up to the previous ‘adjusted normal’. My appetite is on and off. I’ve also been experiencing a ‘fluctuation’; I guess you could call it, in my attitude - just a little. I became kind of snippy after we got home. I had to make an adjustment and then move forward. Maybe the subconscious expectation of what may happen tomorrow is what is working on me. There again, I have to place total faith and trust in God Almighty, believing that my ‘destiny’ is completely in His hands. Remember what Jeremiah 29:11 says? If not, here it is again.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come
and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,"
declares the LORD . . .
What an awesome promise!

I do solicit your prayers for us this coming week. I will be needing them – thank you. Also, would you include Dr. Mike Hackler and Debbie Wilson – both still fighting cancer – and Robin’s cousin Barbara and her husband Don. They have been battling Barbara’s health problems for almost a decade. I hope to have a better update for ya’ll concerning them later this week. Jesus said to ask, knock and seek. Let’s continue to do all three all the time.

Work hard, Play hard, Pray hard - and life won't be so 'hard'.
George.