Southern Porch Extension

[Laurie]

There were people coming and going where my mom and I voted, but we didn't have to wait. Good thing because it gets to my allergies to be in that building for long. Where I used to vote, before I moved here, you used a pencil on a string in a booth with a curtain.

[Carole L]

We voted last Friday. Long lines for early voting, took us almost an hour.

They showed the early voting lines here on the news yesterday, about twice as long as what we had a few days before.

[ready2go]

Don bites finger nails while watching scary election returns...

Hoping for 270 count soon ... running out of nails to bite.

Forgets about toe nails ... can't bend over that far.

Don

[Laurie]

Yes, it's so nervewracking. I'm worried.

[Carole L]

I've been thinking a lot lately about how God reacted and or treated his people when they refused to recognize Him. He gave them over to their evil desires and put them under the rule of evil kings until they repented.

[ready2go]

My thoughts for today...

Don

On this day following the election, we gaze out over our smoldering, war-torn landscape and wonder what happened. A battle has taken place...a battle between good and evil...a battle against overwhelming demonic forces...and, evil has been declared the winner of choice.

* We are a nation in which over half of the voters believe it is okay to have a socialist government headed by a dictator mentality.

* The majority of voters couldn't care less that their freedoms are about to be destroyed.

* Over half of the voters don't seem to care that our nation, including them, is sliding over the edge of a financial cliff from which there is no return.

* That same majority of voters have deliberately stuffed God farther back into a corner so that biblical principles won't get in the way of perceived progress.

* Over half of the voters approve of same-sex marriage, recreational drug use, and abortion, as well as elevating professing homosexuals and Muslims to high government positions.

* The majority of voters don't seem to mind that taxes will dramatically increase for all, and that forced national healthcare will be a disaster with human lives at stake.

* That same majority have believed the lies, the deception, and the false promises spewed out during the political campaign.

For the most part, the mindset of the American people has changed in recent years. Liberalism has become the order of the day. Wholesome values have gone by the wayside, morality has been replaced by immorality, and biblical Christianity is being shoved aside and replaced by "believe-whatever-you-want" religions. Going is the family unit of husband and wife. Evil is now being called good, and good is now evil. There is much, much more.

Also, those with various ethnic and cultural backgrounds who have entered our country are becoming more numerous and demanding that their voice be heard. Because of those things, it is possible there will never be another conservative republican president voted into the Oval Office. Perhaps we have just participated in our last election.

Welcome to the new USA. Hang on...because it will be a rough ride.

[Laurie]

Well put, Don. I wish that what you said wasn't true, but it is. They're the same kinds of thoughts I've had today, but couldn't put into words. I don't think I've ever been as sad about our country as I am today.

[deejay]

I didn't like any of the candidates, but I am so glad Romney lost--and I'm a card-carrying Republican.
There was never any conclusive proof that Obama is a Muslim. Not that I've heard, anyway.

And GreenLeaves, I so understand about having to put a beloved pet to sleep. My baby girl cat Tripod had to be put down two and a half years ago, at age 19, and my friend Donna who'd been caring for her while I was in a homeless shelter took her first to my vet, who confirmed she had renal failure and that it was better she be put down, but she was something of a celebrity and he couldn't bring himself to put her down. So Donna took Tripod to her vet, who did it. Tripod and my other kitties are waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge, no longer suffering from ailments, and being cared for by Jesus and the angels.

[BeachGrandma]

I remember how bad I felt when Bill Clinton won the election, not once but twice! I thought our country had lost its collective mind to place such a morally depraved individual into the highest office in the land. I could almost imagine every teenager engaging in promiscuity (because their role model, the president did it). I could envision all the moral fiber of our country torn into shreds, while Clinton, the leader of our land gained in popularity, was admired and adored by women, men, kids, everyone, it seemed. Had we gone insane? But we lived through it. It's true we were never again as naive, as trusting, as spiritual as we once were but we made it through it. And we'll make it through another 4 years with Obama, who advocates many of the things we abhor. I believe there are enough praying people in this country who will hold on tenaciously to their faith in the years ahead, confident that our "God is not dead nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail..."

[Shann]

And then Tuesday Marty and I had to have my buddy put to sleep, we had 15 loving years together. Only those who have been attached to pets will understand . I feel absolutely lost without him and feel like I betrayed my best friend.

I still carry you all in my heart.

I'm sorry about your pet. We had our 20 year old cat just die and I'm so glad we didn't have to euthanize her. We were thinking it might have to be done not only because she couldn't see or hear or make it to the litter box but because every once in a while she would let out this horrific yowl of pain. It gave me shivers. Wasn't sure the cause but they suspected the beginning of cancer. My hubby found her outside and he thought she was just sleeping but she wasn't. I felt terrible because it had been chilly the night before and she really wanted to go out so I let her and thought that might have contributed to it but Chris said he had let her back in and out again the next morning. She loved being outside so I'm glad she was able to spend her last hours out there.

[gwenllian]

Edy wrote
Welcome aboard the Porch, Gwenllian - I don't think I've seen your face around these parts before! BeachGrandma is our hostess with the mostest, so I'm sure she's going after another rocker with your name on it.

Hi Edy,
Thanks for the warm and friendly welcome! I am pretty much brand new to the ol' Porch. I've been visiting it regularly, but not contributing because I didn't really have anything interesting to say, until I saw Green Leaves sad story and it reminded me of my own poor Suzie Q.
I'll gladly take the rocker, with some relief! because I'm visiting from afar! (South Africa.) When you read this, I'll be snoring away in the small hours of the morning!
Call me Gwen! The full name is Welsh and has a most peculiar pronunciation.

Hi BeachGrandma!
Thanks very much for the invitation; I'd be proud to join the company!
I read your beautiful eulogy to your gorgeous little dog. What an absolute Honey, and what a dreadful thing it is to have to make such a decision, even when we know it's for the best. My Suzie gave me such a trusting little smile when I left her with the vet, certain I'd be back to pick her up later. It was many years ago, but I still feel like the worst kind of traitor every time I think of it. Still, I'm sure our beloved pets are tearing around the green meadows of Heaven, waiting for us to arrive. There's a verse in the Bible (though I can't find it at present) that says the animals don't need to be told about the Lord because they already know their Creator. That says it all for me!

I loved your piece about Adonis! I haven't had a really good laugh in ages! That did it for me, for sure! Thanks so much!

I hope to visit more often in the future. Thanks for the rest in the rocker! I felt much better, with Ol' Blue's head in my lap and the Cranberry muffins with my coffee! Yum!

God bless you, everyone!
Gwen

[gwenllian]

Hi Shann!

I didn't see you there until I'd posted my reply to Edy & BeachGrandma. You must have snuck in while my head was bowed over my keyboard.

20 years is a really good old age for a cat, I think, but it doesn't really afford much comfort when an old friend dies like that. It's really awful when an animal is evidently in pain and one can't do a thing to help it. I sat with another of my many dogs, outside in the cold in the middle of the night, waiting with her while she slowly drifted off. She was also very old and it was something of a relief when she was finally gone, but I still cried my eyes out. I suppose it's one of the disadvantages of having pets - outliving them. Still, they're a wonderful blessing while they're around.

I hope you're doing well. Have you heard from the newly-weds?

God bless you and yours,
Gwen

[Shann]

Thanks Gwen, yes they are back home and had a delightful time in Florida. We even talked a few times while they were there. With the hurricane heading up the coast while my kids were heading down made me a tad nervous but they managed to avoid it. My son Q had to fly back to North Carolina and had a layover in NYC. I suggested he try and switch his flight which he did and it turned out to be a huge blessing because his plane from Buffalo to NYC would have arrived and then they grounded all flights so he would have spent several days in an airport. He is going to Duke's School of Divinity to receive his Masters in theology and already missed one day of classes due to wedding. It's taking him a bit to adjust to the harder schedule so I'm glad he didn't miss any more classes. Then the youngest went down to NYC to help with the relief work this weekend. I was worried about her and what she might come across. There was raw sewage everywhere and she would take a shovel and shovel out a person's lifetime possessions. I'm proud that she wanted to go and help since many freshman college students have other things on their minds. She's back and safe now so that is good.

[ready2go]

I saw this being done today on another Christian message board. Considering the perilous times in which we live and events of the past day, I thought it would be a good and fun thing to do on our porch.

The one who begins each new "game" would start a scripture verse without actually identifying the book, chapter and verse. Then, someone would add the next line or partial line in the verse or verses.

Here...I (Don) will begin with an easy one. Feel free to continue the game...

Our Father which art in heaven

[Laurie]

Hallowed by Thy name

Good idea, Don.

Welcome, Gwen. Nice to have you chatting on the porch with us.