"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." ~ Francis of Assisi

Yes, I have seen those t-shirts. The ones that ask what day is Christmas on this year. Come on, what day is it? The one with the camel. I would say what will they think up next but at this point and time that doesn't even seem to matter. At any rate, it's that day again, Wednesday, and I do bid you welcome here on this December 11, 2013. I suppose for those of us who are pretty much occupied seven days a week, the hump day concept doesn't get us as fired up as others. But, I am very much familiar with the sentiment and I'm sure you are as well. The administration has done a really good job in getting the healthcare roll out off the radar screen. They essentially changed the subject. It helps if most of the news media cooperates, and the major ones did. Think Lemmings. Those who know the details tell us that the big surprise will not come until after Christmas. That's right. Next year promises to be a year where, based on changes coming to the employer provided plans, you can forget about even thinking about keeping your doctor, that is, unless you want to pay for him or her directly out of your own pocket. That's an option provided to the public in an interview this past weekend by the so-called architect of Obamacare, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. I would guess that by the time this all hits they hope to have some other distractions to redirect our angst. There's surely enough to go around.

What are the odds of this happening? Last weekend they did the annual run of the Santas up in Philadelphia. One of the participants was making his way along one of the routes, dressed in his Santa suit, when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Strange. We do live in a world where we never know what might happen next. And, people do some mighty strange things. I read where some folks here in Texas built a 2500 square foot ginger bread house. Yes. It did set the Guinness record. The good news for this caper is how they used it to raise funds for donations to a local trauma center. You just never know. In 1895 there were just two automobiles in the entire state of Ohio. You guessed it. They crashed into each other. The good news for us is how that regardless of the seemingly odd, strange, random, and so called coincidences in life, we have a Sovereign God who is working through us that which is the good pleasure of His will. (Ephesians Chapter 1)

You pick up a recollected memory where you can. During this cold snap they have broken out some of the big round gas fired space heaters for the shop. Those things glow red and are irresistible. That was the heat we used when I was growing up. Space heaters. On a frosty morning it seemed like you couldn't get close enough hovering over those red hot flames. I remember in high school that's how we heated the agriculture classroom. I know. They call it shop or industrial arts now. But back then it was ag. We boys would back up to those heaters and get as close as we could. Then, an unsuspecting prankster would slip around and come up behind you and pull the front of your pants leg and it would literally burn the hair on the inside of your leg. Oh what fun! You may have been jumping but it wasn't for joy. But still a good memory. Y'all take care now, you hear? And, may God bless us all. Amen.   ...More later.