Author Archives: Kim Smyth

Writing Prompts

I Cheated

Ok, I had to cheat on my brew mini crossword this morning, sue me! Haha, I was stuck on the last letter of the last word, so I hit reveal.

Example only.

I love doing puzzles, word searches, and other games. And most of you know I read the Morning Brew newsletter daily. Well, each day they include a fun puzzle, and Saturdays you get a full-size crossword to do.

I don’t care for the turntable, the picodu, or the computer based jigsaw puzzles, but I love a good crossword, and most of the time I never cheat.

Today has been stormy, rainy, and just oogy outside, but its been good for me as far as pain. Almost non-existant. Maybe my strategy to cut the sugar way down has helped with that. Not that I sit around eating candy bars all day anyway. I’m so sensitive to it that if I eat a few pieces of candy-like a handful of malt balls, I’ll feel it.

So, I guess I’ll stick with my sugar-free stuff, less bread, less (almost no) alcohol, and see if I continue to feel less pain. ☺️

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Writing Prompts

Looking Forward

David and I have not been able to plan our next trip to Colorado for the summer because of delays in getting the generator fixed.

We began discussions about a route last night, and then today they told us it was time to renew our extended warranty on the bus. Luckily, I had just been paid, so I footed that huge bill.

Swivel rocker recliner with massage and heat.


Eurochair rocking, swivel, recliner.

I’m also proud to say that (because I get my ssn checks now) I was able to buy all three new chairs-two swivel, rocking recliners and one Eurochair that does the same-for under $900!! Amazon had the recliners in a pair for $500 something and the chair for $200 something. (I don’t have the figures in front of me.)

We went out to the bus today so I could put on the backsplash. It is incredibly difficult for a peel & stick product. The pattern I picked has to be cut and matched up for the “tiles” to look “set.” if I had it to do over again, I’d have picked something I could cut and measure. I’m doing my best to figure it out and make it look right. But we are both perfectionists, and had different ideas of how to set it. It was my project, so other than argue, he left me too it. It’s about 50% done. It was hard on my back, standing on tiptoe and twisting to place it on the wall facing the stove. We had to take a break and decided to finish it another day. Dave was doing some trim on the floor.

The news came from my neurosurgeon consult yesterday that other than physical therapy and pain management, there’s nothing else that she would suggest right now. My pain is unresolved, but I’m still going to put until we leave here, stretching daily as well as how me exercises, ice, and the same medications of been on. I’m praying and trying to stay positive that it resolves on its own, or that I can somehow get another nerve block injection in the future. I’m just going to do all the things I know to do like eating right, getting good sleep, and working to get stronger and believing one day, my pain will stop.

Everything is moving, just agonizingly slowly. It will all get done, and we will surely find somewhere to be for the summer. There are always options. I’m ready to be able to exercise in a pool, and those days are drawing nearer, whether it’s here or somewhere else.

Word of the Day Challenge

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Writing Prompts

Bible Study

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

I can answer this one very easily.

The practice of reading, and learning what I just read about is the one thing I’ve recently done to improve my life.

In fact, I can say with honesty now that I am hungry for the Word of God. I would not feel complete if I didn’t start my day with Bible study. I truly feel that I am not only talking the talk but walking the walk, so to say. I not only read the words, I study them. They are explained to me in detailed lessons so I’m retaining the meaning and have a new understanding.

The only thing left is to find ways to serve. I can pray for others, and loved ones, but I am not active in fellowship with the church except to attend so far. Since I am not a member, nor can I become one at this moment in time, I will have to serve Him in other ways. I count my sharing of the message weekly on my blog, but is that enough? It is a work in progress. Living on the road presents it’s own unique challenges that I will have to work through. Maybe I can find or start Bible study groups at the various RV resorts we go to.

I believe that prayer works, I have seen the proof in some interactions within my family unit.

So those are the ways that daily Bible Study has begun to improve my life. I’m an organized person, and function all together better when things are organized. You know, a place for everything and everything in its place. Morning Bible study has its place at the very beginning of my day and I’m learning, albeit slowly, how to pray so I can have a closer relationship with God.

Yesterday, I had to be at an appointment very early in the morning, so when I got home was when I had to do my study. You just fit it in when and where you can if your normal time gets interrupted. Personal prayer time with God is whenever I can find quiet moments throughout the day.

I want the same for everyone. I want to shout it from the mountain tops that the only way to gain salvation is through a personal relationship with God. If only this message could reach every person on Earth, it would truly save the world.

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Writing Prompts

The Sunday Message

First off, Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who is a mother, and has a mother, or has ever mothered someone. Hope I covered everyone!

I hate to say it, but I’m at a loss as to how to approach the message today.

You could read and contemplate Psalm 62, since that was what our sermon was on today. I thought it was a stretch to pull Mother’s Day into the context of that sermon, except to say that what he was saying was we should all lean on Jesus as our rock and our refuge. Nothing we are going through as mothers or not is too big for God to handle.

Or, you could consider Acts 2, the second half of which I listened to today, before moving on to Acts 3. It took two sessions for him to get through how important it was for Peter to -as the chosen leader-reveal the miracles while still in the Upper Room so that all present could see the moment when he was given the Spirit of the Lord, then to speak to the nation of Israel about receiving the word, understand that they now -having heard and received -must repent and be baptised so that they can go out and spread the word of God.

Not that that has anything to do with the day either, but just to let you know where I am in my Bible reading and study. I do feel good that I am proceeding in my journey as I should be, by reading the scripture, then having it explained to me in detail, before sharing it with anyone else. He explained the importance of that as well in this lesson.

As I’ve been writing, the thunder, rain, and lightening have stopped and the sky has cleared! I hope that means that we will get to see the Northern Lights tonight. It depends on how late the viewing period starts, because if I have to stay up later than 10pm to see it, it’s probably not going to happen. Also, I won’t be driving to some location away from all the city lights, that will be a factor also.

I hope you all have a great and relaxing Mother’s Day! 💐

Thank you for being here, reading, and responding as well as all the prayers for my friends. I will share details when I get updates.

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Writing Prompts

Needing Prayer Warriors

Tragedies happen every day. I know you all have your own stories or happenings in your life that you need prayer for too.

My friend Bruce had a stroke last week, and I’ve been praying that he recovers-he also has pneumonia -that once he is over that they can clear the huge blockage in his artery.

This morning, as if that wasnt bad enough, my friend Julie called to say she was not going home to see her mom as planned, but got rerouted to Vancouver, Washington. Her son Josh was in a motorcycle accident and is in the hospital. We don’t know the extent of his injuries, but mama is running to him anyway, just as we would if it were one of ours. Someone entered his lane of traffic, and I’m assuming knocked him off the road.

I do know one of his knees is all but gone, but thank God he was wearing a helmet, so hopefully his head is alright.

If I could ask, I’d appreciate your prayers for both of these friends, and anytime you need me to pray for you and yours, I will. I hate to be such a Debbie Downer, yet these things are occupying most of my thoughts. I’ve prayed and will continue to do so. You can bet I’ll be reporting the news as soon as I hear it. 🙏

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