Trinity, Neo. and The Matrix

We have our long black coats on, like Neo and Trinity from The Matrix movie.

Me: Can you run up the wall, do a flip, and kick me in the head, Trinity?

Mary: Not today, Neo.

There are 6 deer behind and above the snow fence. Yesterday Mary remembered today's nail appointment without prodding. After her nail appointment, we decided to take a run out to the park. We were not disappointed.

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A Word Study on Affliction

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Thank You, Sovereign God, for Your path that led me through the fields of affliction. - Mike Dittmer

I am ALIVE!

Picture taken by Mary

You, O Lord, have been generous again, for I am ALIVE another day. Help me with Your grace to keep Your Word. (See Psalms 119:17)

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I also have a new blog that may lead, Lord willing, to a new book, Thinking Clearly

Notes about the family picture

Things to note: my mom was so young looking I had a doctor confuse us as a couple, and a coworker wanted to take out my "sister". 

Ted Dittmer looks really cute and innocent. Ha!! Because he has black hair, and all the other kids had blond hair, we told him he was adopted. 

Kelly, the littlest guy, is with the Lord, as well as Mom and Dad. 

Tim and Terry looked so much alike Mom called them the Bobsy Twins. 

Charmaine or Charly, (Sam Reeve) my youngest sister, other than her insatiable curiosity, was quite sweet. Where that came from, I have no idea.

All of us suffered from borderline mental illnesses, except for Charly and Mom, (Mom's only fault was being sociopathic fearless) but our illnesses were not diagnosed until later. If it doesn't have a name, it doesn'texist yet.

We got along with each other and others pretty well as long as we weren't forced to fit a mold. Then watch out. (I was going to say All HELL would break loose, but decided not to.)

Many people considered us an ideal family, and in some ways we were. We all loved each other and enjoyed each others company and attracted mates (and friends) far above our own caliber. 

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To-Do List vs Constant Prayer

A to-do list helps me. It also often frustrates me because in real life plans change.
I have removed the frustration and added joy by changing my to-do list into a PRAYER LIST.

Every time I am reminded of something that needs to be done, I am striving to add it to my prayer list for the day, written in one or two words for each item on a post it. Each item I need to do is an opportunity for prayer.
It also is an opportunity to thank God for my need, and to thank Him for His insight and guidance. On the picture I have put the initials P&T for Praise and Thanksgiving.
For larger projects I have already reached the conclusion that it is better to mull on big ideas for a while, especially if the project is a big change. Now, if I think it may be important to get started soon, I am going to write a one or two word description in a section called Meditate.
Working no longer becomes a distraction from prayer, but an opportunity for more prayer, and to enjoy the closeness of His Presence.
I have been doing this for some time, but today I started to use a post it note to carry with me. I will reflect on this at opportune moments, during commercial breaks, or moments where I check my cell phone. This small tweak is one more opportunity to thank the Lord, for He is the source of all Truth, and His Holy Spirit leads me into all Truth, even the small practical truths of guing my day.
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Vanity

I may have the face of an old hound dog that only a mother could love. You can nail my picture to a barn wall to scare off rats. But, for an old man, my hair looks GOOD!!

The News vs High Fat, High Fiber

I was hungry for some news. I have a digital subscription to The New York Times, who has teamed up with Google to make an app that works brilliantly and smoothly, both on my phone and on the computer.  They run ads, so that keeps the cost down to just $9.99 a month. The ads are not the obnoxious kind, that take up the whole screen and hide the X to get rid of the ad. But I digress.
As I said, I am hungry for some news. I am a news junkie. But I am trying out a new working theory that I formulated while learning about nutrition and the salad diet.
I noted that when I started to increase my fiber and fat on a regular basis, my hunger pangs lessened. Evidently these two ingredients have lessened my dependence on carbs. Carbs are not a sin, but carbs do make up the majority of what is known as junk food. Junk food also is not a sin, but it can easily take over my life. It is very refreshing to not be overwhelmed with an appetite for junk food.
The new higher fiber, higher fat diet has evidently switched my body over to a fat burner. Since I have plenty of fat on hand, my body isn't as desperate now to stuff my mouth with carbs.
Now to the new working theory. I think news is like junk food. It is not a sin, but it does not satisfy. The more I know, the more I want to know.
However, the Living and Written Word is not junk food. He satisfies. He turns my Spirit and Soul into a fat burning machine. Since I am surrounded by the blessings of God, which is the fat that God promises, I am betting that my hunger for knowledge and facts will not roar out of control.
Praising God brings his presence. Just listing my blessings for the day could keep me busy all day every day. I see, I believe, therefore I speak, as Paul said. Every thing is YES in God's Kingdom.
Does this mean I am going to stop pursuing the news? Not hardly. Nor  am I going to stop eating homemade biscuits, rolls, or even candy. But what I plan to do is to keep increasing praise, thanksgiving, worship, and seeking the Living and Written Word until I feel that hunger for news turn down from a blast furnace to a simmering curiosity.
I am going to Bible Gateway for a while, until my hunger and thirst is slated, and I'm filled with the high fiber, probiotic, high protein, and high fat of God's richness. Then I'll catch up on the New York Times.

A New Woman

I make a tea for Mary, made with Fiji water, green tea, kava kava, cinnamon, cloves, and intellect tree seeds.

Me: Drink up! This will make you into a new woman.

Mary: WHAT?! I just got used to the old one?!

I read this back to Mary, who started laughing. She doesn't realize just how funny she is.

Mary: Your friends are going to think we're having too much fun.

Me: and your response?

Mary:YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH FUN!!

Faces, Smiling, and Makeup

Marie said my face looks good, I just need to smile more. These two pictures prove smiling doesn't help.

I have some things to say about my face. They are truth.

1. Makeup would help.

2. About makeup, that will never happen.

3. If my face offends you, I don't care.

4. If I offend you, I don't care.

5. If only my face offends you, we are both blessed.

6. If my face does not offend you, friendship has blinded you. Thank you, Marie, and others, for being my friend, in spite of my weird sense of humor, and my less than perfect face. ;-)