Taking Care Of My Wife 3/18/2026

 Good Morning,

The hot Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee in my cup is just the right temperature to enjoy and it is time to write. 

Genesis 2:18. And the Lord said "It is not good for man to be alone"

Over the last couple of days we have endured wind storms, snow storms, cold weather and injuries to our little kingdom. While assisting me with snow removal Monday,  my wife Rene twisted and her knee did not twist with her. Now her knee is swollen and painful. We sought medical attention and now are seeing a specialist this morning. I want to thank those who have been praying for her.

I have been promoted to "Chief Cook, and Bearer of Ice Packs". I learned a little something over the last couple of days. I now know where we purchase our dog food and not to throw out the receipts. You get a free bag after you buy ten bags. I have learned that we have a washing machine. Those things are quite handy. The dish washer is another appliance that does not fill with dishes itself.  In order to keep the lights on the bills have to be paid and then taken to the post office on time. We don't do auto pay or electronic services. 

Then I have learned that my wife is not a good patient. She doesn't follow orders. This is most perplexing. She is supposed to stay off of her leg and now I know that she must not understand or be fluent with the English language. I have to articulate all my instructions slowly and use Pig Latin as our language of choice. Yesterday I discovered that freshly washed underwear has a proper way to be folded after leaving another appliance called the clothes dryer. This injury must have also caused her to go back in time and stop right about in her teen years. She has developed the "Look" that I witnessed once or a million times from our daughter. You know "THE LOOK"

We have been blessed to be married for a thousand years and it hurts to see Rene in pain. My prayers for her are constant. I love her to the moon and back and hope this heals soon. But in the meantime she has hidden the mop (I now know we have one.) When I inquired as to where it is, she replied you mean "Waldo" I replied what?  Her reply was "He's on first." You are old if you understand  that one.  

I put my Ecclesiastes and King Solomon hat on and pondered my plight as he would do. I just have to say that I Have a great wife and I have been spoiled by her.

Have a blessed day.

Marty 

Fix Your Face ??? 3/17/2026

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and it is time to write.

Proverbs 15:13 NKJV A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

Isaiah 3:9 NIV The look on their faces testifies against them, they parade their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it . Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves. 

We often have a dear friend of ours who betrays us and gives away our thoughts to others; That friend is our face. You can almost always tell what a person is thinking by the expression that comes from our faces It is a direct giveaway to our minds and our hearts. Some people wake up with a scowl on their face and condemn the day just by their facial expression. Especially watch the faces of people who when asked their opinion on an idea or suggestion who say "I don't care what we do, I am good." Then watch their facial expression and it contorts in a way that reminds me of a two year old tasting medicine "liquid 1960s penicillin" after being told it is good for them. 

I am not suggesting that we lie, but our face is expressing  our attitudes that some times need a fixing. You might say you are fine with something but your face tells the truth.  So plain and simple fix your face by looking into your heart and understanding that the sun rises on you as well as others. Your face might need an attitude adjustment. 

Just a little food for thought!

Marty

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 3/16/2026

 Good Morning, 

I an sitting at my desk staring at the blizzard outside enjoying the warmth of the house and a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee. It is time to write. 

I call any snow storm in March the "second winter". Well our second winter arrived last night and is supposed to last until late this afternoon. We have every thing we need to stay inside and dig out later today. 

Ephesians 5:19 ESV Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. 

My day began with prayer after my radio alarm woke me up to an old hymn. And I can't get it out of my head. 

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 

1.O soul are you wearied and troubled? 

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior. 

And life more abundant and Free

Chorus Turn your eyes upon Jesus 

Look full in His wonderful face 

And things of the earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace,

2. Through death into life everlasting ,

He passed and we follow him there;

O'er us sin no more hath dominion

For more than conqu'rors we are!

3. His word shall not fail you, He p[romised;

Believe Him and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying.

His perfect salvation to tell.

This hymn was written by Helen Howarth Lemmel. It has soothed the heart of many troubled souls since it came to the attention of the public. It is a beloved hymn of the sick, the stressed , the bereaved and all that need rest from our stress filled life on earth. 

So may your coffee be hot, your troubles small, and keep a hymn in your heart today.

God bless.

Marty

Being Polite Isn't Totally Lost Yet

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee for myself and it is time to write. 

Ephesians 4:29 NIV Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Last Friday we had some strong winds blow through our state. Once again we had some damage to our home due to the wind storm. I happened to be out and about picking up supplies for a church dinner being held on Saturday. That wind was "rocking". A young lady was in the parking lot of the food emporium trying to gather the shopping carts that had set themselves free to roam the parking lot. It was a losing battle for one person. As one of those runaway carts was headed to smash into the vehicle parked next to me, I was able to grab on to it and give it to the cart gatherer. I was able to fetch a few more with her and help her back into the store. 

The young lady was wind blown and a little tired. As I handed off my stack of shopping carts she looked  me straight in the eye and said, "Thank You Sir. Have a great morning despite this storm." I replied "Good Morning  Mam, You are welcome. Have a better day"

As I walked away I recalled some training I received during my work years when I was cautioned not to use the term "Mam" as it could insult some folks.   A cloud of doubt entered my mind. Did I just ruin a good deed by saying Mam?  My thought as I tried to justify my use of the term Mam was this. She called me sir first. I thought her polite greeting could be answered using politeness in return. I did not know the lady's name. Although addressing her by name was not called for. I am sure I was about fifty years older than her so she probably wrote me off as being old fashioned and not knowing better. I will probably make that mistake again and sometimes the way I was raised clobbers me when the world declares a change.  It's a shame when this world even impacts a civil response or greeting. Or makes you stop and think on how to respond so no one gets hurt.  The world has made a lot of changes in etiquette over the last ten years. I don't always roll with the changes so if we meet and I say good morning Mam or Sir just consider me the old goof who just can't change.

Have great day. 

Marty

Enjoying A Little Down Time This Morning. 3/14/2026

 Good Morning,

I have as my companion this morning a hot cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

James 4:14 ESV Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 

                                                photo credit simply called food .com

Yesterday I was very busy with arranging storm repairs to our home once again. Our church is having a taco dinner after the service tonight. I cooked the beef for the tacos yesterday as well as some duck, goose, and pheasant meat as a surprise taco filler. Our cheese supply failed us and I had to make a cheese run in the wind storm. I could have done some of this today, but you never know what a day will bring, so it is better off to take advantage of the time allotted. 

I received  a call last night from a neighbor who was gifted a recliner from another neighbor. There is one function on the lift type chair that isn't working right now. We promised to look at it in the near future and I guess we will look at it this morning. This neighbor is a right now is the best time kind of guy. 

Proverbs 16:3 ESV Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. 

Sounds a little like I am complaining. Not really, my point for today is this. God has numbered our days on this earth and He fills them with tasks He wants done and He sets the time frames. So if it looks like the to do list is large it is God who made the list. We should be happy to have a list. The list lets you know that God is thinking about you and you are valued. 

Food for thought!

God bless. Marty

The Wind Is Blowing Hard Today 3/13/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Sunrise Roast Coffee and it is time to write. 

I am late in writing today because of windstorms that are blowing in excess of 60 miles per hour over our house. It isn't hurricane strength or wind like tornadoes but strong enough to let you know to be wary of their strength and very cautious. Earlier I heard something smash against the house and I went out to see what that might be. I was chased back inside pretty quickly by the strength of the gusts. Damage assessment will have to wait until it is safe to get on a ladder. 

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His presence continually. 

My point for the day is this. Unless you are battling a storm that requires you to step out to save a life, stay inside until all is clear. There is really nothing you can do that is worth risking your life or injury to yourself or the dogs that followed you outside.  This storm, like others will pass and you go on from there. 

Life has many storms other than the type nature provides now and then. It might be a personal dilemma, a stormy relationship, illness, loss of a job, or other calamity.  The advice is the same.  Seek refuge in the arms of God. Don't rush out under your own power. Wait on Him. 

Have a blessed and safe day. 

Marty

You Have To Be Patient 3/12/2026

 Good Morning,

It is a cold crisp day outside and I am allowing my hot cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee to move slowly through my system and warm me up. It is time to write.

Yesterday, I had the experience of training our dogs with my nephew Matthew. We had with us Matt's dog, one of mine and Matt's brother's dog. You could tell that we hadn't been training much as of late because we were hunting quite a bit and winter wasn't cooperating with our efforts.

All three dogs were a little sloppy in the training arena yesterday at first. The response we were getting wasn't what I desired from all three and especially the two champions. I had to scratch what I was originally going to do for a training session and slow down and ease into it. Every time I hit the field with the "two honchos" I have come to expect almost perfection and yesterday wasn't it. 

So I backed off on the skill level and intensity of the training and soon there after the dogs were coming around. I was less frustrated and so were the dogs. A little patience, less stress and more praise seemed to do the trick.

My point for the day is this. Sometimes you need to start slowly in life's daily grind and make sure all of those involved in an endeavor with you clearly understand the goal and expectations. You need to make sure that you are also clearly communicating,  and if needed go back to the basics and don't leave anyone behind. 

At the end of the day, things looked better and we finished on a fun note for the dogs. Last night all three dogs in our home were content, tired and just looking to get their ears scratched. Today is a new day and yesterday forgotten. 

Food for thought. God bless.

Marty