Burdened

With recent reminders of death all around, I have been burdened. A recent sermon invited us to find one person with whom to share the Gospel, just one. I sat there wondering why I don’t share. There are all kinds of tools to help us. Surely, my friends and family would at least hear me out.

I don’t like conflict. I don’t want to risk our relationship. I want you to like me, to think well of me. I don’t want you to scoff at my beliefs. I have seen relationships strained. Maybe some have been driven further from Jesus instead of closer. So, I let that fear of conflict keep me silent.

I know I often feel inadequate. I can’t answer some of your deep and probing questions. Sometimes I doubt my own heart. In those times, I cling to my faith. I remember one pastor saying, it’s not a crutch, it’s a stretcher, life support even, that carries me. Sometimes I feel like I’m still drinking from a baby bottle when I should be eating meat (Hebrews 5:12-14). That’s to my shame. I encourage you to pick up that Bible. Read for yourself. Attend church. Seek out Christians to answer some of those questions. I happen to know a few and will gladly put you in touch with them.  : )

The Bible tells us that if the watchman sees danger coming and fails to warn the people of impending danger, the watchman is held accountable. You can read for yourself in Ezekiel 3:16‑27 and Ezekiel 33:1‑11. So, at the risk of straining our relationship, offending you, please know that the Lord God Above loves you and does not want you to perish. I don’t want you to perish. I want to see you in heaven.

There’s a reason John 3:16 is an oft-quoted favorite. It’s direct. It’s simple.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Believe today. None of us may have a tomorrow.

If you’re already a Christian, stand strong in your faith. Keep the watch, especially for your family and friends.

With a burdened and prayerful heart, Elizabeth

The Last Christmas

We wanted to spend this past Christmas at our home. It was the last one we'd spend at the house. We visited immediate family about a week later when we joined them for a larger reunion with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Plus, we had just taken a quick weekend with family at Opryland.

We reminisced as we hung ornaments on the tree. Some were given to us by family. Some were ones we bought on different vacations. A fair number of them had kites on them. Some were bought simply because we liked them. More than once I caught myself just looking at the tree and thinking about family or vacations.

It was a bit rough when it was time to take down the tree. I kept wondering if so and so would like this ornament or that ornament. I wanted someone to enjoy what we enjoyed. In the end though, most of the decor and ornaments went to the local charity. I hope the next owners enjoy them as much as we did.

It is being with family and friends, not ornaments on a tree, that warms our heart at Christmas.

Christmas at Opryland Resort

For years I have heard Dad talk about the Opryland Hotel. Years ago he attended a convention there and it became a favorite hotel. That said, he would seldom stay at the hotel itself. Ever mindful of cost, he would often stay at a hotel across the street. That hotel was still part of the Gaylord properties and had a free shuttle to and from the convention center.

This year, thanks to a CyberMonday sale, we managed to sneak in a quick getaway during the Christmas season. This time everyone was staying at the hotel. Family of Dad & Catherine and Tammy & Greg, along with local Nashville friends who were celebrating an early anniversary, Bill & Bitsy, all got rooms.

Dad was right about the hotel. It's massive. One of the waitresses said that the hotel had over 2800 rooms. The atriums with their fountains and cascading waterfalls were amazing. There's even small boat rides that bring Disney's It's a Small World to mind. There's plenty of shops and restaurants too. If that's not enough, you're next to outlet shopping. The General Jackson showboat leaves from the complex as well.

During Christmas, they have all kinds of shows and activities and lights and more lights. As noted in a previous blog, some of us went to the Ice! A Christmas Story exhibit. All of us went on the midday lunch cruise on the General Jackson. I think we all wished we had another day or so. There was just too much to do with only two nights there and a long drive back to Virginia.

In the lobby

Inside the Cascades Atrium

Inside the Gardens Atrium

Dancing fountains

Cascades Atrium

Delta Atrium

Gardens Atrium

Family!

Friends!

Outdoor Nativity

Ice! A Christmas Story

Mid-December we took advantage of a CyberMonday sale to visit Opryland Hotel. We had heard Dad talk about the hotel for years and how much he enjoyed it. He even took us through the lobby on the way back from somewhere else. The hotel did not disappoint, but that's a blog for another day.

There was so much to see and do at the resort itself, let alone out and about the Nashville area. One of those seasonal activities was Ice! It's an indoor ice sculpture exhibit featuring a winter or Christmas theme. The themes vary from location to location. For example, the Ice! Gaylord National Harbor hotel featured Dr. Seuss this year. The Ice! theme at Opryland this year was A Christmas Story, much to Harold's delight. I'm surprised he didn't shoot his eye out.

The scenes are hand-carved from over two million pounds of ice. You can search for videos on the process. I was afraid if I shared a link that the link would change. The exhibit is kept at 9°F. They provide a big blue parka for you to wear, but you might want to bring gloves and hats.

At the end, Ice! had a separate nativity scene in clear ice. As parts of the Bible were read, the scene would light up that section of the ice. We didn't get a good picture of it, but the angel wings were amazing.

Seeing an Ice! exhibit is well worth it, with or without the discounts typically offered.

Ready to begin the adventure in our blue parkas

Higbees!

Stuck...stuck...

A major award

Lifebouy!

You'll shoot your eye out

Santa pushed

Wait! I want a "official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time."

The department store slide

Told you 

Duck!

Nativity Scene

$46 Engine Oil Change

Did I say $46 oil change? I meant to say $46 oil filter.  That’s right, I just ordered the oil filter for The Beast, and it set me back $46. That is more than what it usually costs to buy the oil and filter to maintain one of our cars, and that is using a premium filter and full synthetic oil...  I won’t be putting synthetic oil in The Beast as the oil will be changed on an annual basis. We will never put the 25,000 miles on her in a year, which is the mileage service interval for dinosaur oil according to Cummins.

The Cummins Fleetguard LF14000NN oil filter has 2-in-1 media technology, meaning it has a layer of media that removes the larger particles. Then the oil goes through a second media that removes smaller, fine particles to prevent long-term engine wear.  It is like having a normal full-flow filter and a bypass filter built into one filter housing.  The LF1400NN has all synthetic fibers in the media, so it catches more dirt and doesn’t clog as easy as traditional filter media.

LF1400NN next to the oil filter that fits both our Honda Odyssey and Accord

 

Here is the business end of the two filters

The Honda filter holds about one pint of oil, while the LF1400NN holds a full gallon of oil.

Luckily for me a previous owner installed a Femco oil drain valve on The Beast’s engine oil pan. It makes the task a little easier, note I did not say easy, just easier.  I like the Femco design over the Fumoto design as it is a dual seal system. The valve seals and then the dust cap seals.

Femco oil drain valve

The Femco oil drain valve replaces the normal drain plug and has the handy hose that screws on to the valve to both open it and direct the flow into the container of my choice for easy recycling of the used oil.

Did I mention that The Beast’s engine takes eleven and a half gallons (forty-six quarts) of oil when we change it?  The normal passenger car takes only four to five quarts.  I have to go shopping for oil before I can change it in The Beast. I never imagined that I would go to Tractor Supply to buy a shopping cart full of engine oil.  I have to get the oil changed as part of winterizing her for the last time as we go full time RVing next spring!!!!! WOOO HOOO!