When I say, "Senior Moment", I'm not talking about the grade in high school.  I'm talking about the weird things you go through because you are "over the hill".  I am surprised that I haven't written a post since last June, but quite frankly, I forgot my sign in name, and my password.  After a few tries, I would just give up, and move on to more challenging endeavors, like playing fetch with my dog, Scooter.  A while ago, I got a message from Xanga inviting me to come back, which I thought was pretty nice of them, but they still didn't tell me what my name or password was, so after telling people I was coming back, .......I, indeed, never did really come back......sorry.  It was pretty much out of my control!

But school is out for the summer, so perhaps I can entertain myself by writing again in my Xanga.  I did hear from Saxon Mathematics, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) to be exact, and they actually want me to work for them.  After two years of waiting, it may just happen.  I am supposed to go to Cleveland in June for training.  That should be fun!

I just finished another Randy Alcorn book, "Deception", yesterday, and I am starting another one of his entitled "Lord Foulgrin's Letters".  It is also very good.  Randy Alcorn is my favorite author.  I've read 6 of his books, and just started on my seventh.  If you're a reader, I would definitely recommend you try his books.

Oh, yes....and today is my 32nd wedding anniversary!  Happy Anniversary, Richard!

Well, I will sign off for now, but hopefully, will write another post soon.....if I don't forget my name and password!

I would like to answer the question a friend of mine asked:  Is it wrong to grieve for a pet who has died?  My answer to that is...... absolutely not!!  In fact, I still cannot talk about Pepper, the Peek-a-poo we got when we first got married.  She lived to be 13, and died in 1992, but I still can't talk about it....the hurt was so great!  Even as I type this, I am crying, because of how much she meant to me.

I have been reading a book called, "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn and, as I've mentioned before, it is absolutely fascinating!!  I would like to quote some of his chapter entitled, "Will animals, including our pets, live again?"

".....We should ask ourselves why so many people find such companionship, solace, and joy in their pets.  Is it because of sin?  I believe it's because of how God has made animals, and us.  That's why the question of whether pets will be in Heaven is not, as some assume, stupid.  Animals aren't nearly as valuable as people, but God is their Maker and has touched many people's lives through them.  It would be simple for Him to re-create a pet in Heaven if He wants to.  He's the giver of all good gifts, not the taker of them.  If it would please us to have a pet restored to the New Earth, that may be sufficient reason. 

In many of his writings, C.S. Lewis commented on the future of animals.  He said, "It seems to me possible that certain animals may have an immortality, not in themselves, but in the immortality of their masters...In 'The Great Divorce', Lewis portrayed Sarah Smith, a woman ordinary on Earth, as great in Heaven.  On Earth she loved both people and animals.  In Heaven she's surrounded by the very animals she cared for on Earth.

In her excellent book about Heaven, Joni Eareckson Tada says, "If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn't surprise me.  It would be just like HIM!  It would be totally in keeping with His generous character...Exorbitant.  Excessive.  Extravagant in grace after grace.  Of all the dazzling discoveries and ecstatic pleasures heaven will hold for us, the potential of seeing Scrappy would be pure whimsy--utterly, joyfully, surprisingly superfluous...Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.

In a poem about the world to come, theologian John Piper writes, 

"And as I knelt beside the brook ...to drink eternal life,  I took...a glance across the golden grass...and saw my dog, old Blackie, fast...as she could come.  She leaped the stream...almost, and what a happy gleam...was in her eye.  I knelt to drink, and knew that I was on the brink...of endless joy.  And everywhere... I turned I saw a wonder there." 

I hope these words bring comfort......

Well, we started back to school, today.  I was pretty much ready, really.  I had a pretty good week off last week.  We also went to St. Louis to see two different cancer doctors today.  It was just a check-up for the radiation oncologist, and also the medical oncologist.  One said to come back in six months, and the other, in a year.  Yeah!  That's good news!

We went to the JC Penney outlet store at Jamestown to look for a dress for me to wear to Spring Banquet...that is sort of like prom for our Christian school.  I want something green, not too pouffy, conservative, yet elegant and cheap!  (Am I asking for too much?)

There's a man downstairs working while I am typing this.  He is installing a new hot water heater.  Yeah!!  Now I can take a real shower tomorrow before school.  I've had baths all weekend, boiling water, etc.

Sarah will be home tomorrow night, around midnight, I think.  They are planning to leave at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning and drive straight through.  Her friend (Whitney) is going to stay the night here, then she will travel the rest of the way to Atlanta, GA.  She will be home until May 2nd.  She is even going to Agape with us.  Who else is going?