Day 140 Only One Thing

 

5/21/2026

"I have one thing to do today...

follow Him."

Matthew, The Chosen 

I'm listening to Steffany Gretzinger sing All Hail King Jesus, and it takes everything inside of me to keep myself seated and not jumping and leaping and praising God. It's hard to focus on what I'm trying to write. In fact I'm not certain what to write, how to write. I was struggling trying to play catch up, getting my notes written into blog posts, as I'm running behind again. For some reason I've been in a lot of pain, so I can't sit still long enough to finish typing. I can walk and pray, but I can't walk and type. Listening and singing, praising God at the top of my voice or in calm assurance, makes it difficult to focus when I can sit still. This is my life. 

I was telling Abba just last night that I haven't been able to be in this place of sitting in His Presence, waiting, listening, because of the distraction of the pain. But this evening, I sat on heat, on ice, I did whatever I had to do just to be still long enough to finish my work. Turning on my music I heard Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe singing Psalm 63, and I knew I was on my way back into His Presence. Now I'm babbling as I try to worship and write, not wanting anything I feel to escape, desiring to share my heart, wanting more. The pain is still present, but it's as if it's insignificant, and His Presence lifts me above it, away from the distractions, away from the noise.

The song Mikhsi U'Magen (Hebrew for my shelter and shield) is playing - Shelter Me (Psalm 91 - and the lyrics say:

"When the night is dark and weary, and I cannot find my way, You come close and whisper gently, 'Child, I'm with you every day.' Through the shadows and the silence, when my heart begins to break, You remind me of Your promise, that You never leave nor forsake."

"Ruach Elohim fill my heart with perfect peace. Yeshua you are my refuge, in You all my fears will cease. Shelter me beneath Your wings. El Shaddai my hiding place. Hold me close within Your love, and let me see Your holy face. 

I am safe, I am loved, in Your everlasting arms. You will carry me through, You will keep me from all harm. In the desert of my longing, when my soul is dry and bare, You provide the living water. Show me that You're always there.

When the storms of life surround me, and the winds begin to blow, You are my anchor and my fortress, You're the only hope my heart can know. 

Adonai rohi You restore my weary soul. Yeshua You are my portion. You have made my broken whole. Shelter me beneath Your wings. El Shaddai my hiding place hold me close within Your love. Let me see Your holy face."

It's really strange, but I didn't remember putting this playlist together, and when I checked, it appears that YouTube put this mix together for me based on my preferences, I imagine. It's a little weird to think that this program knows me so well, but I guess things could be worse. Actually, it's not a system that knows me or can read my moods or preferences, it's Holy Spirit ministering. I won't call it coincidence or by any other name other than what it is, an appointed time with my Lord. I can do nothing other than follow Him, praise Him, show Him my love, nothing else matters. "Jesus have it all, Jesus have it all! To You belongs the glory, blessing and all honor, majesty and awe!"

In my earlier reading today I read the following quotation by O Hallesby:

"Jesus is moved to happiness every time He sees that you appreciate what He has done for you. Grip His pierced hand and say to Him, 'I thank Thee, Savior, because Thou hast died for me.' Thank Him likewise for all the other blessings He has showered upon you from day to day. It brings Joy to Jesus."  

There's no other place I'd rather be than in His Presence, and it's why I seek out prayer rooms and 24/7 worship. This is the best part of my day. It's my one thing! I love to share my testimony, remembering all the things He's done for me. Today I had a dental appointment, so I had an audience. People need to know!

I'm listening to Upperroom Church, which is a 24/7 prayer, praise, and worship room in Dallas, Texas: 

"I don't know how to say exactly how I feel, and I can't begin to tell You what Your love has meant. I'm lost for words. If there's a way to show the passion in my heart, can I express how truly great I think You are. My dearest friend, Lord, this is my desire. To pour my love on You. Like oil upon your feet, like wine for You to drink, like water from my heart, I pour my love on You. If praise is like perfume, I'd lavish mine on You, til every drop is gone, I'll pour my love on You." (Pour My Love on You)

This song is my heart's cry. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for meeting me in this place. Lord, I pour my love on You! Now and forever! No place I'd rather be than here in Your love! May the reader find shalom.

Day 139 Hineni - Here I Am

 

5/20/2026

"For the ignorant, old age is like winter;

for the wise, it is a harvest."

 

Almost daily I either hear or read a derogatory remark about older people, as if we are of lesser value, social standing, or mental and physical capability than those younger than ourselves. Personally I have never given into the "age delineation," because I have always had a childlike mind and am drawn to the wonder of life and God's creation. I am not affected nor influenced by how another responds to life and living it. I simply am myself, so I function as myself focusing on what I am doing rather than on what someone may say or think I cannot do because of age. I spent far too many younger years being told what I could not do to be ensnared once more in that debilitating and egregious lie! Therefore, I encourage my fellow aging friends to focus on what scripture has to say about things, rather than man's opinion. One has only to consult the daily news to see that is a true statement. This is a year of harvest! More directly a year of spiritual harvest, as we are beginning to see what we have been praying for is certainly coming to pass.  

I must admit that I speak to the Lord way too many times about the remaining days of my life on this earth. I wonder if I should return to work, because so many people don't want to work if they can get paid to stay at home on welfare. But, this error in reporting is soon to be extinguished, as many able-bodied younger people are being evaluated to see if their claims to assistance are legitimate. Besides working and earning a wage and livelihood based on hard work and sweat is honorable and rewarding. Many of the available openings are in the field of social work or related case management positions, so I am perfectly suited and qualified. Recently I noticed that the new dental complex close to me were hiring, and I thought "I can do that!" After all I am a affable person with good customer skills, but I figured the owners would prefer a much younger person with a whiter smile. I figured that although I am quite computer literate and used to problem-solving, I'd much prefer a less public job anyway. But many older people are returning to work, because they aren't suited for retirement, only working hard, making a difference, or at least striving to do so wholeheartedly.

When Paul the Apostle was writing to Titus about setting up the church in Crete he said, "But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine; that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (Titus 2:1-5) In other words, older men and women were valuable as they had lived their lives well, using the gifts and callings of God, and they had faced and overcome difficulties or challenges in their lives that younger people would encounter. They could benefit the younger men and women with their life knowledge and learned skills. Even younger children learn from older adults, grandparent models, whether they have one parent or two, extended families where each person is a vital part of the child's life. The need in the foster care system is extensive, and that's why I am so excited to see our First Lady Melania Trump's program to assist these foster care children in growing up in a caring, loving environment, receiving the proper education and support to be able to succeed in life. 

When I read reports about things going on in the nation, people going astray, uncertainty about one's identity, the shortage of teachers in the public school system, illiteracy in high school graduates, and a whole plethora of problems, it makes me want to sign up to help save the world. I think back over the lessons I've learned and the experiences I've gleaned in all these years of life, and I wonder if I have anything to offer someone, somewhere. My mind begins to explode with ideas, and my heart hope again. Is there anyone who needs anything I can offer. If so, here I am, Lord, send me! This is the echo of my heart's cry!   

Day 138 Wilderness Witness

 

5/19/2026

 "Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends

of the earth, neither faints nor is weary."

Isaiah 40:28

 

Waiting for something to happen, whether for good or for bad, is not a pleasant place to dwell. In all of life, at various times in our journey, we will experience waiting. In Genesis when Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, because they were jealous of him, although he was taken to Egypt and became the slave of government leaders, he found favor. Even when he was imprisoned under false charges, he found favor with the guard. When he was eventually set free he gained favor from the Pharaoh and became the second highest ranking official in Egypt. He never wavered from his faith, and he saved his family and the nation from starving during the famine. Even though what happened to him was unjust and undeserved, the Lord already had it planned out for His glory.

In Psalm 25:4-5 David is crying out to the Lord for deliverance and forgiveness, and he said: "Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day." In many of David's psalms he cries out to the Lord for help and encouragement, even though as a shepherd he walked with God daily. In the quiet places in the field and in the wilderness, He knew his God.

This past week's Torah portion was called "Bamidbar" which in Hebrew means "in the wilderness." The reading began in Numbers 1:1 where the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai when He gave Moses the commandments and laws. Moses went up on the mountain to receive the Torah. The word "midbar' taken from "bamidbar" means "to speak." When Elijah was running from Jezebel, he went through the wilderness to Mount Sinai to find God. Just as with Moses, God spoke to Elijah, just as He spoke to Moses on the mountain. Prior to meeting with God, they had to go through testing. Moses had been wandering in the desert with a lot of grumbling and complaining going on. Elijah spent a 40 day journey through the wilderness to talk to God, and the angels ministered to him, so that he would have the strength to endure. Spending time in the wilderness is necessary for preparation and testing. And with preparation and testing comes long periods of waiting. But in these times, our hearing becomes more sensitive to the voice of God. In order to grow spiritually and mature in our faith we must endure the heat of the wilderness, the dry places in the desert, and the depth of the valleys. These are places of great victory.

Day 137 True Revival

5/18/2026

"Our understanding of God is the answer to prayer; getting 

things from God is God's indulgence of us. When God

stops giving us things, He brings us into the place where we

can begin to understand Him."  

O. Chambers

 

Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is my passion, and in some small way I hope that I am living faithfully for Jesus in the little things I do. I was sharing this morning with someone that I often become frustrated, because I'm not sure that what I am doing is the way God intended that I do it. But I am trying to be faithful to write, as I was instructed to do, even though even that seems to be of little consequence. So I become "stuck!" Yet again! But, I must remind myself that obedience is the key.

In a discussion regarding revival I was reminded about the longest revival in the history of revivals, because it lasted 100 years. I am referring to the Moravian prayer meeting started by Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf, a wealthy nobleman, in the 1700's. As I understand it he grew up in a religious family, and he was very sensitive to the Lord even as a young child. At some point in his life God showed him Jesus' death on the cross, and God said to him: "I did this for you. What are you willing to do for Me?" That experience fueled his passion for reaching the lost even more. I read that he had taken into his home hundreds of persecuted Christians from Moravia and other nations who became part of this massive 24/7 prayer meeting movement. They were later sent out to minister to the world, some even to the extent of selling themselves into slavery, so they could minister to the others who were slaves. They felt it may be their only introduction to the gospel message. Many encountered death. Their story greatly influenced well-known evangelist John Wesley who attended their prayer meetings in the 1730's and 1740's both in Savannah, Georgia and Hernhut, Germany, which is the location of Zinzendorf's home. I can imagine that countless people have been encouraged by the testimony of this movement and their persistence in prayer. Although I only started reading the account of this movement in a book called The Moravian Miracle the introduction lists many ministries who have been affected in our modern day.

Recently I mentioned the college and high school chapel meetings that are beginning to break out into revivals, transforming lives, and students are eager and hungry for a relationship with Jesus. Many desire to go into missionary work as the momentum gains ground and spreads. In studying revival history when  such outbreaks happened, they lasted a few months and slowed down. I remember that the Asbury revival of February 2023 was forced to close down or rather become less public, because no one was attending classes, and people were coming from all over the country, even internationally to see what was happening causing the small town of Asbury to have difficulty feeding and lodging people. The Jesus Revolution movie came out in 2018 recounting the Jesus Revolution movement of the 60's and 70's. Since that time many have been baptized at Pirate's Cove at Newport Beach in California, the location of the baptisms in the movie. This has long been used for Calvary Chapel baptisms which was the church where the Jesus Revolution broke out. But this is only one instance of west coast revivals, as many have occurred in California, and they are still going on in the State of California. Mario Murillo just held his tent revival for three days in Stockton, California, and then he was asked to return again for three more days. I think he will also be returning in June, so something great is happening in this city.

Today I was listening to a pastor speaking about those who are being saved or coming back to life in Christ, and he said that so much emphasis is being placed on evangelism that discipleship is being ignored. I know that follow up has always been very important with ministries I connect with, and even online connection with Bible studies and home groups are encouraged, especially with the emphasis on local connection. I have been hosting a weekly online group study for ladies for Harvest Ministries, and I have women from across the United States joining. I always encourage finding a local church, and I educate them about what is available through the ministry at Harvest online. There are new Christian studies that I help monitor as well as Bible studies for self-study and with live group interaction. It is becoming difficult to keep up with those who are anxious to learn and interact more. And this is only one example of follow up and discipleship through one church. But I do agree that more emphasis needs to be placed on walking with a new Christian or a struggling one to encourage growth and participation. The fields are truly ripe with Harvest, and Jesus did not just give the mandate to "go" to intercessors, missionaries or evangelists. He told each of us we are to tell everyone about the love of Christ. The best way to do that is by sharing our testimonies with people who are hurting and obviously seeking answers. All answers are found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7)

Day 136 Rededicate 250 - A National Jubilee

 

5/17/2026

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness

and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

Psalm 107:8

 

May has presented many public opportunities for Americans to express their thanksgiving and praise to a Holy God who has not just showered us with blessings, but He has poured great strength and incredible wealth and ingenuity and an enormous capacity to shine the light of His glory on not only our nation but the world at large. The celebration of prayer, praise, and worship of our Almighty Father held this weekend began weeks and months before with humbling ourselves, seeking His face, repenting of our sins, and embracing His Presence, and He heard our cries to Heaven, and He is healing our land, one heart at a time! I believe this, because I have seen young people responding to His call at an old-fashioned tent meeting in Stockton, California led by Mario Murillo Ministries where many young people are running to God, surrendering their hearts and lives, being delivered of addictions, and hungering for more and more of Jesus, the only truth there is in this world. People of all ages are being saved, healed, and delivered as they respond in humility, repentance and praise. I saw it as Rabbis and Pastors met in Washington DC with members of Congress for an Israel Advocacy Day bringing Jews and Gentile leaders together in solidarity and friendship to stand against the evil of antisemitism. I saw it on more than one college campus as revival continues to break out in prayer meetings, students racing to the front of the chapel in repentance, confessing their sins openly, seeking the forgiveness of our God who waits with open arms to welcome them home. The momentum has been gaining ground, so the church must arise and shine! Do not miss out! When a church continues with their own agenda when things like this are happening, it's time for revival and transformation in that church. When I see the lack of support for or response to a national call for prayer and fasting for the eternal welfare of our nation, it troubles me. And when I see a National Mall filled to capacity, folks in and out all day, Christian television streaming it live, and yet not one mention of this rededication was mentioned from the pulpit of many churches across this nation, it grieves me. 

The Rededicate 250 Jubilee was well done and well attended, and there were ministry leaders and political leaders participating who presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every speech and prayer. There were civilian testimonies of miracles and revivals, and the worship was God-honoring. Those leading worship were Pastor and Worship Leader Andy Frank, the Grand Canyon University Canyon Choral Society, the Liberty University Choir, Blessing Offor, Aodhan King, Military Trumpets, Bagpipes playing Amazing Grace, and the closing worship leader was Chris Tomlin, a favorite of many including myself.

Pastor Samuel Rodriguez was the opening speaker who prayed for the event and set the tone for the day with Psalm 89:14, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face." Sadie Robertson followed with a short message from 2 Kings 22 about the young eight year old King Josiah who changed the nation with his sweeping spiritual reformation of Judah. When he took over as king, following his father's death, an evil king who did not follow the example of King David, he set to restore the temple. One day a discovery was made of the scrolls with the law, and Josiah first repented and then determined to follow the instructions of the "lost word" that had been found. As Sadie shared about the reforming deeds of Josiah, she mentioned that the word is never lost. Even Jesus said in His Olivet discourse found in Matthew 24:35 that "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away." Sadie also shared the testimony of her father, Phil Robertson, who is now in Heaven with Jesus, about how he literally was so lost in sin, cheating that he walked out on his wife and from his family. Later, he experienced the presence of God, discovered the love of Jesus, and finally went home and asked forgiveness. We all know the amazing story of the Robertson family. Prayer works.

There were so many speakers and short messages, testimonies, history lessons taught during the day, but so much can be packed into a few words with scripture. Scripture says it all. But this is still not the end of the celebration, as it will continue throughout the entire 250th year. On July 3-4 Intercessors for America will be hosting Rededicate America featuring Dutch Sheets in Washington DC at the Museum of the Bible. Others participating in the event will be David Kubal, Jim Garlow, and Danny Gokey plus many more, offering teaching on foundational beliefs, testimonies, and worship. Information has been posted on my Facebook page.

There's so much more I could say about today, as the day continued to overflow with blessing after blessing, but for now, it's late, and I have a wall to climb. Shalom. 

  But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! 

Amos 5:24

Day 135 Nevertheless

 

5/16/2026

 "When you have nothing left but God, 

only then can you realize that God is enough."

Daily Walk

 

"How deep is your commitment to God?" Job was a wealthy rancher living in the land of Uz; he was a man who feared God and walked uprightly shunning the very appearance of evil. He had a large family of seven sons and three daughters, who enjoyed getting together on their birthdays to celebrate. Job did not want his children to accidentally enter into sin during these celebrations, so when the parties ended he would gather his children, sanctify them and offer sacrifices for them just in case they sinned. I know how that goes, as I've prayed for my children before, during and after. In fact at this moment my younger son, who lives with me is off at an appointment, and I'm praying for his safety and well-being. Parents care about the health and welfare of their children, especially their spiritual welfare. Job walked with God, and he did not want to offend Him or others with inappropriate behavior or unintentional sin. He was a compassionate and generous man, the story goes, who helped others in need, and God had blessed him greatly. 

One day when the angels were gathering in heaven before God, Satan came along. God asked him what he'd been up to, and Satan told Him that he'd been roaming the earth watching everything that was going on, and probably causing mayhem, because he goes around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour as 1 Peter 5:8 later described him. Then God asked Satan if he'd considered His servant Job, because he was "the finest man in all the earth - a good man who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil." (Job 1:8) Satan took the bait, and God allowed him to cause Job to lose his wealth, but He would not allow Satan to hurt him physically. Satan was quick to devastate Job by having the Sabeans to raid and drive off the animals and kill all but one farmhand who was able to inform Job. Next, a messenger can to tell him that fire had fallen from God and consumed his sheep and herdsmen, and before the words were from that man's mouth another messenger came to say the Chaldeans had driven off his camels and killed the servants. Finally, another messenger came to say that while his sons and daughters were feasting in the older son's house, that a mighty wind had caused the roof to fall in and kill all his children. All this bad news happened in succession, probably as a horrified Job stood there breathless with each report. Imagine that much tragedy in one day, within minutes of each other. The scripture notes Job's response as: "Then Job stood up and tore his robe in grief and fell down upon the ground before God. 'I came naked from my mother's womb,' he said, 'and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all of this Job did not sin or revile God." (Job 1:20-22). I'm sure that did not sit well with the enemy who had hoped Job would curse God, but not faithful Job.

The next time the angels came again to present themselves before God, Satan showed up again. God once more asked him what he'd been up to, and the response was the same as previously. So God asked him once more to consider His servant Job. Since Satan had lost the bet the last visit, and Job had not turned his back on God, Satan told God that if he was allowed to take his health, Job would curse Him. God once more gave Satan permission to afflict Job physically, but he was not allowed to take his life. So Satan had Job stricken with boils all over his body - painful and nasty. It was at this point that Job's wife told him to curse God and die, but Job didn't listen. He told her she was talking like a heathen. Not too long after this Job's three friends - Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar - showed up to console their friend, or so they felt that's what they were offering. They were so shocked at Job's appearance and his obvious agony when they first saw him that they sat in silence for seven days, not speaking a word, until at last Job in his agony and suffering blurted out the words "Let the day of my birth be cursed," and he proceeded to lament his existence further, wondering why this had happened to him. It seems like a normal reaction to me. But no, after that poor Job's real suffering began as he experienced not only the pain of his physical maladies and the emotional terror of losing his family and wealth, but he felt the betrayal of fair weather or 'would be' friends. One little slip of the tongue, and a barrage of verbal bullets began to be loosed against Job. I'm not so sure I could just sit there and take all of the well meaning concern and advice myself. The commentary says, "after exhausting the conventional wisdom of his counselors, Job is confronted by God Himself, and his demanding "why" melts into humble worship."

In the end, after each of his friends took their turns buffeting Job with godly counsel, God spoke directly to Job and set things straight regarding Job's questions, and He vindicated Job before his friends and told  Job to pray for them. Then, God restored all Job previously owned doubling the number of animals and increasing his wealth. God even gave him seven sons and three beautiful daughters. He lived 140 more years and had grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nothing else is mentioned about the wife, but I'm sure she was humbled as well and perhaps gained a little more gratitude and fear of the Lord as well as respect for her husband.

People always talk about the patience of Job, but actually he was getting a bit unsteady at one point. After he cursed the day he was born and spoke of his misery and longing for death, the scripture says in Job 1:25-26: "What I always feared has happened to me. I was not fat and lazy, yet trouble struck me down." I have always wondered what Job meant by saying what he feared would happen. I guess that's one of the many mysteries we will discover once we are either raised from death to life again or get carried away to His Presence where we will have eternity to discover the answers. We all experience or will experience suffering, mishaps, turmoil, loss, and so many things in this life and in this evil age. But the one thing we can say is that when we serve our Risen Savior who saved our souls from sin and eternal damnation, He said in John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Satan is out of business spiritually speaking, so we have no need of his roars if we trust in the Lord and lean not to our own understanding. We must have faith to believe and accept His great gift of salvation, and we must trust in His Word. Although things come along, and Satan will certainly try to get the best of us, nevertheless, "Our God reigns forevermore!" (Psalm 97:1)

Day 134 The Way Home

 

5/15/2026

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less

traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

"The Road Not Taken"

Robert Frost  

I have always enjoyed traveling back roads and avoiding interstate and highway traffic. Besides which the scenery is much more beautiful as we twist and turn through densely forested areas with old farms and pastures of animals lazing and grazing, seemingly enjoying life on the range. It may take longer to get to where ya going, but it makes for a peaceful, less anxious way to travel - at least in my thinkin!

We left a little late yesterday en-route to Virginia Tech for the graduation, but check in wasn't until 4 pm where we stayed in Roanoke, and the graduation didn't begin until 7:30 pm. The weather was chilly in the mountains, but thankfully, although it was cloudy, it didn't rain on our parade. Although the ceremony finished earlier than expected, the drive back to the house took longer due to traffic, so we were late settling into bed. I've become accustomed to going to bed earlier most nights, but I wasn't as tired last night as I thought I'd be. Our room had a huge television on the wall, and after playing with the remote control for some time, my sister and I were able to figure out how to find a station and a movie to watch before calling it a night. We decided on a Robert Redford movie, The Horse Whisperer, which we enjoyed, although it was sad, but it ended well. 

This morning I felt pretty rested, but it would have been nice to tuck my head back under the covers and stay awhile longer. The place we stayed in while nice enough did not have the amenities we had previously when we rented an airbnb, but we adjusted. It made me think about what I'd love to see if I had a rental of my own. I think I'd have paint brushes and cans of paint, and I'd offer to have them paint for me in exchange for a hot meal and a lot of snacks! Maybe an extra night on the house if I was pleased with the paint job. It's not a totally bad idea, but perhaps it will give me something to dream on.

We had to check out by 10 am, so we decided to take it easy, travel a different route home, through an alternative back roads route and try to find a nice ma and pa restaurant to pay our respects and grab a nice meal. I also wanted to stop at a Family Dollar or Dollar General to pick up some notebooks for myself and gummy worms for my son in appreciation for him watching my cat. I have never seen so many Dollar General stores in the backwoods before, and they were so close together. We didn't see many grocery stores, however, until we got to a larger town, and they were few and far between. Maybe most people grow their own food?! We did notice many barbecue places in one area, so I guess they raised pigs. It was an adventure going over hill and vale, but I loved the rolling hills and fresh, clean air.

We didn't stop for lunch until we got to Green Bay near Keysville which is only about an hour from my home in North Dinwiddie. We passed a busy local restaurant, called Willoughby Restaurant, so we decided to make a quick turnaround and stop there. We're so glad that we did. Once we entered the door we sensed the homey warmth, as we were greeted cordially and told to sit wherever we liked. Candi was our waitress who was very warm, personable and attentive. They offered a wide selection of breakfast combinations all day in addition to their other choices. The specials included catfish and meatloaf, and one other item, but it slipped my mind. I decided on the meatloaf that came with bread and two sides. Everything was homemade and fresh, so I decided on mashed potatoes and baked beans. I was not sorry for my decision, as the food was very delicious. My sister had the meatloaf, but rather than mashed potatoes, she chose a baked potato with butter and cheese with bacon. She savored every bite. My nephew had a double hamburger with cheese and bacon and a side of home style fries. The hamburger was definitely patted out just for him, and my sister grabbed a bite of the hamburger and the fries, reporting that the fries particularly were sensational. I guess we're potato people, as we all enjoyed our taters. Later Mr. Willoughby came out to our table and chatted with us a while, then he sat down at another table with a friend and chatted briefly. This was definitely a family restaurant, with local patrons. I think I may take a ride back up the road one afternoon and pay them a visit just for the sheer enjoyment. Anyone reading this, be sure to pay them a visit.

Arriving back at home, after visiting with my son a bit, I decided that I'd go outside and trim some of that wicked Virginia Creeper that creeped back into my bushes. After all the riding and climbing in and out of the truck, and after a short night's rest, that was not a sensible thing to do, so I didn't last too long outside squatting and bending. So, I decided I could wait another day to burn the branches and debris. Since I had eaten not that long ago, I decided I'd forego supper and rest a bit. When I sat down, I drifted off to sleep, so I really didn't get a chance to finish up my evening meeting with the Wilbur family online. So, rather than make my neck stiff from sleeping in the chair, I decided I'd head off to bed. I figured that I'd be more refreshed in the morning. It's been a good day!