February 8, 2020 thought for the day:  The time to make friends is before you need them. Traditional Proverb

To start this memorable weekend I had a visit with another of my great grand children yesterday, that makes seeing three of the five in one week, what a wonderful happening for me. He is so precious, all five are. I don’t seem to be able to get the time to visit any of them more often. I want to catch at least a glimpses of their steps and changes into life as I can catch before they leave Columbus on lifes journey or for other reasons I can’t make a brief visit in their lives.

For the photo of the day for February 7, “begins with F”. There are a lot of things that could work and to be considered for that as well as all the letters of the alphabet. But I was thinking of something close by. I have to dogs that have a lot of Fur. That figured out to be the photo of choice for today.

This is the first weekend that we have had the twins over to spend the night since Sue got home from the rehab center. It was good to have them here again although we do have a lot of toys to pick up.

I have absolutely nothing on a must-do list for today. I have the newsletter and annual report that I wanted to get as good a head start as I could. I have as much as I can get done at this point without getting the information from the rest of the committees. I need to amend that statement slightly, I do have some photo embellishments I want to add that I may work on yet this afternoon.

I made a coke-a-cola cake a little while ago, with some of my own additions (sour cream and more cocoa powder). Bob, Sonja and I just had a piece. Wow....was it ever rich. It was “sinfully” delicious.

The word is diverse.  Pain is as diverse as man. One suffers as one can, Victor Hugo. Because of the diverse conditions of humans, it happens that some acts are virtuous to some people, as appropriate and suitable to them, while the same acts are immoral for others, as inappropriate to them, Thomas Aquinas. There never were in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity, Michel de Montaigne.  The most tranquil house, with the most serene inhabitants, living upon the utmost regularity of system, is yet exemplifying infinite diversities, Henry Ward Beecher. One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their . . . paths [are] diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world, Alexis de Tocqueville. To believe and to understand are not diverse things, but the same things in different periods of growth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion, Thomas Paine. It is never too late to give up our prejudices, Henry David Thoreau. Difference of opinion is helpful in religion, Thomas Jefferson. The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities, Lord Acton.   

Today’s theme, “I have too many of”. There again, I have a lot to chose from especially since I am one of those people who have a hard time throwing things out...”I may need this down the line” and so on. The photo I chose probably shows that statement as well as any other. I have tones of spices.

The article today is about increasing homelessness in Columbus. Since I work at the food pantry, I have some contact with this situation. It is sad. According to the article the nation’s homeless is on a positive trend but in Columbus there is an increase in shelters of families with children. The article also stated that about a third of the families who leave the shelter get steady housing. One of the homeless that was interviewed for the article said “It’s one barrier after another.” That person went on to say that anxiety and depression are factors. It is felt that job loss, illness, rising rents low vacancy and landlords being more selective are considerations in this problem. Another factor is the changes in the welfare system. Some thing that effect the homeless situations are struggles with mental health and substance abuse that are relatively common.

We are having chicken and dumplings along with spam sandwiches for dinner.

Joy