Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 44

The Special Kitty

     It will be two years ago this coming August that we brought home two kittens from the humane society. The story goes that their entire litter was found one morning in someone’s wood chipper. How horrible! And how lucky that the man working the chipper that morning looked inside before turning it on.

Gizmo was totally black and totally a hellion. His sister Emma was calm and demure from the start. Even driving them home, Gizmo was all over the truck while Emma sat in the back of the cat carrier not moving.

In retrospect, maybe Gizmo was so wild for the same reasons that Emma is special. Last spring when the weather got nice, he just wanted to be outside. We didn’t let him out much as he was still pretty small, but he still got away from us. The saddest part is never knowing if he wandered off and found a new family or met a tragic end. 

Just this spring, Emma is finally wanting to go outside, but that will never happen without close supervision. Emma has a neurologic deficient.

When she was still just a kitten, a few months old, she started spinning in circles whenever she was walking through the house. And if she was excited about something, she’d spin even more. She also can’t jump like a normal cat, and when she walks, her hips sashay back and forth like a cheap hooker. And though she meows once in a while, she mostly makes frequent “purr-up” noises.

Stairs really throw her off. (Sorry the video is so dark.)

You need to watch the video to fully appreciate my special little girl

At least she still has her big brother, Ches. 

Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised, when she woke us up early the morning of March 12, shaking the whole bed, her limbs thrashing uncontrollably. After the second seizure, we took her to the vet. After the fourth one, we started her on phenobarbital.

The vet explained that sometimes if the momma cat has distemper while she’s pregnant, that it can cause part of the kittens’ brains to not fully develop. Oh, that makes me so sad. How many kittens have been born with neurological disorders because owners haven’t gotten their cats shots? Or how many unwanted litters have been born because people don’t get their pets fixed?

But I wouldn’t trade my very special Emma for anything. 

Will We Live or Die

      For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8, New King James Version)

Like most of you, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. We are still dealing with COIVD19 and all the uncertainty which is still hanging around the pandemic. We all want to get out and travel or be around others or just plan get back to normal. And every time we do, we hear on the news that there has been another spike in cases, or there’s another variant, or a friend is sick in bed with the virus.

Then there is the war in Ukraine. How that tiny nation is hanging on and defending itself against the giant Russia is only something God can know. But how long will this drag on, and how long before other countries get involved, actually start fighting side by side with the Ukrainians.   

And with all that going on, the world economy is rocky at best. How long before people who thought they were financially secure face homelessness and starvation. How long before the crime rate grows even faster as people become desperate.

Christians should be turning to God and opening their Bibles for the answers. When there is nothing left, there is always faith.

But what about the nonbelievers. Who argue that if there was a God in heaven, no one would have to suffer. Who have little value for human life, who would put themselves first above others.

Or what about those who think that living life is all there is and you just die when you die. Or you go someplace else or become reincarnated. My heart cries for those people. I pray they find the Lord. I pray that, if it be His will, God gives me the strength and the words to try to reach those people before it is too late.

But no matter what happens, me and my house will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). I need not fear, as God is with me, He will strengthen me and help me and hold me with His right hand (Isaiah 41:10). I will be strong and courageous; I will not be afraid or discouraged, because my Lord and God is with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). 

It's a Wrap, Dells post #14

     I promise, promise, promise, this is the last post from my stay at the condo in Wisconsin Dells last October. Which is why I am presenting a hodgepodge of pictures taken over the week. There are so many more, but I really can’t post all twelve hundred of them here.  

Just a random bathtub on the porch of the A.L. Ringling Mansion in Baraboo. 
What's not to love about an idyllic Wisconsin farm? 
St. John's Lutheran Church and cemetery in North Freedom 

Most of the headstones were in German. This one, "Through the blood of Jesus alone I go to heaven." I hope that Albert wasn't alone once Wilhelmine joined him in 1936.  Next stopped at Natural Bridge State Park.
On the way back up the road, St John's church smiled at us. 
And the Comfort Bus makes the kids at Loganville Elementary School smile. 
Man Mound Park east of Baraboo. It's named for the rare, man-shaped effigy mound found on the property, measuring about 214 feet long by 48 feet wide. Just looks like a mound to me.
Outside our condo.
The living room in the condo. 
The master bedroom upstairs was very nice.  This little one and her brother worried me because it was pretty late in the year to still have spots. 
Doing my duty as a health care worker by presenting this public service announcement. Found in the bathroom of the Badger Ammo Works museum. 
And because, yes, I will take a picture of anything. That's a wrap. 

Rocking it, Dells post #13

           I’ve still been writing about my week’s stay in Wisconsin Dells last October and thought I had finally arrived at the end of my story. But alas, I forgot about our hike through Rocky Arbor State Park. 

It was a cloudy day, with temperatures in the mid-fifties. That’s still pretty decent for October in Wisconsin. Yet, here we are at the end of April, and we had snow yesterday! 

Rocky Arbor was only a ten-minute drive from the condo where we were staying, so we figured that we wouldn’t be out much if we got rained out. As it was, the park was already closed for the season but did allow walk-ins. Which was great, because it meant that there wasn’t much activity going on.  

The park had the usual interesting rock formations, which that entire area is known for. 
Some nice Fall scenery. 

 This picture is of what my brain feels like when I’m trying to get to sleep at night – a lot going on. 

 And this is how I feel most days at work. 

 And this is how I want to feel all of the time - just rocking it.  

I promise that this Friday's blog post, I will wrap up that vacation so we can move on next week.
 

When you have no thoughts

     People sometimes ask where I get my ideas to write my blog posts. On Sundays, I rarely take credit for any of my ramblings. More often than not, God plants the seed in my head. Maybe I kind of have a thought, so I kind of start down a rabbit trail, and before long – ta-da – there’s full-blown inspiration tapping at my keyboard.

Once in a while, though, I got nothing. And God? I’m sure He’s got something to say, something He wants me to write about, but it’s not flowing to the top of the fluffy stuff in my brain.

When that happens, I scroll through random recent pictures I’ve taken and one always jumps out at me, and it has a story to tell.

This is the one that jumped out at me today. Dear little Emma. Who has a very long story to tell. But not today. Today you just get an adorable picture of her.

And on days when we don’t think that God is listening, when He’s not answering our prayers, when we feel we got nothing? Well, you have way more than you think, even if it feels like nothing more than a kitten.

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)

Every Evermor Foreverton, Dells post #12

     Even for me, this was one of the stranger places I’ve visited, on the south side of Bluffview, just across Hwy 12 from the Badger Ammunition Site. Fascinating, but strange. Or at least strange after you know its history.

In 1983, Tom O. Every transformed himself into Dr Evermor and built a several hundred-ton sculpture all out of scrap metal, naming it the Forevertron. The purpose of this structure was to transport Dr Evermor to the heavens.  

Or so the story goes.

For me, the Forevertron was too big and imposing. 

I much preferred all the hundreds of items he had salvaged from around the country and brought home to the grounds of his sculpture park.

My imagination could get completely out of control in such a place.

Oh, if only we had a little bit more property and Hubby was a little more willing to let me go crazy.

As it was, only my friend and I toured the park that October day when the heavens threatened to rain down on us. Or maybe it was the heavens calling to Dr Evermor to get in his Forevertron and head home. 
Websites with more information on Dr. Evermor's Sculpture Park:

http://www.worldofdrevermor.com/dr-evermorss-park/

https://www.heritageparkway.org/people-of-the-river/dr-evermore/

https://wisconsinlife.org/story/dr-evermor/

Pier County Park, Dells Post #11

     Rockbridge, a tiny town with a population of around 700, lies 40 miles southwest of Wisconsin Dells. If you haven’t been following along diligently, you may have forgotten that I spent a week in a condo in the Dells last October, and I am still weeding through the over one thousand pictures which I snapped.

Pier County Park is on the west side of town and is the home of this large formation, a half-mile-long rock made of blocked and layered sandstone, rising above the valley near sixty feet. 

The Pine River runs along the base of the rock, and over the years, it managed to force its way under the rock to reach the other side.

You might recognize this picture from my Easter morning blog. In that blog post, I led you to believe that this was the opening of a tomb.

Nope, just the other side of the man-made tunnel carved through the rock.

The land for Pier County Park was donated to the county by the William Henry Pier family and dedicated in 1946.

We climbed the stairs to the top and were rewarded with some fantastic views of the surrounding area.

This part of the state of Wisconsin is called the Driftless Area. During the last glacial period, it was surrounded by glaciers, yet remained untouched by them. Add to that the strength of our many flowing rivers, and you get many beautiful rock formations throughout the southwest corner of our state.

And of course, lots of history too.

For more information, click on these links:
                  https://ci.richland-center.wi.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Rockbridge-and-Pier-Natural-Bridge-Park-2.pdf
                  https://parkscommission.co.richland.wi.us/county-parks/pier-natural-bridge-park/
                  https://wisconsin-explorer.blogspot.com/2015/04/pier-natural-bridge-park-richland-county.html

Easter Morning, 2022

 What? The tomb is empty? Jesus’ body is gone? What happened to it?

But wait? Who’s this? An angel? Saying that Jesus was raised from the dead? That He is alive and we will see Him again?

And best of all, that He will be with us always.

Matthew chapter 28, verses 1 – 10 and 16 – 20, New King James Version

He Is Risen

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

The Women Worship the Risen Lord

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Easter Vigil, 2022

 We got through Good Friday. Now we just have to wait for Easter morning to rejoice in our Savior’s resurrection. If you have kids – or are a kid at heart – you might be coloring eggs today. Maybe you are getting ready for a big dinner with the family tomorrow, cooking and cleaning house. It’s Saturday, so you are probably busy with something.

But all those years ago, that first Saturday after Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb, all good Jewish families were honoring the Sabbath that day. No work was being done; they were attending worship, reading the Psalms, singing hymns, and saying prayers. The followers of Jesus were doing all that and more. They were lost in their thoughts, having lost their Teacher and Leader. They wondered if they would see Him again, if it were possible He would rise from the dead the following day.

Matthew chapter 27, verses 57 - 66, New King James Version

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Pilate Sets a Guard

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Good Friday, 2022

 Matthew chapter 27, verses 35 – 37 and 45 – 54, New King James Version

Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:   

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”