Praises –truck repairs done, meals out with family and friends, joyful Gospel hymn sing at a local church, mower still working, fantastic vacation.
Prayers – Health, weight, and John’s pituitary gland tumor; decisions to settle down in Mississippi; upcoming travel August 23-September 25 for music, volunteer service, and family.
Jesus: “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 ESV
Hello to our friends, followers, and family:
A friend recently asked what church we attend and in response we realized we are perhaps non-committal church goers! One Sunday (Cross Point, Iuka) we were treated to a guest speaker – her testimony and message on overcoming were accompanied with accordion and a great voice. Worship music (Journey Church) went well and John was able to patch his amp into the church speakers. Evening studies Sunday and Wednesday included good discussions and a video night sharing the Christian testimony throughout the FIFA World Cup soccer finals. Two Sunday evenings when several were away, we had a game night with pizza and tic tac toe Bible trivia.
We made many shopping trips, several to look at mowers and sheds, tiny homes, and manufactured homes. Overwhelming, exciting, and depressing all at the same time. Our bath remodel vanity was returned and replaced with an 18” smaller model, John found some good pants and work pants, Connie got a library card, and of course a few food stops were included. Our SALT meeting songs went well, two dulcimer group practices, one dulcimer group program, and some accordion practice completed Salty Strings activities for July.
The volunteer work we started in June was finished up mid-month. Connie glued up some leftover boards, John cut the piece diagonally to fit, and it looked great in their bathroom, hiding the sink bracing. John also ripped a board for corner trim, installed that, and we painted a long wall, around the corner, and a shorter wall to complete the bedroom painting. We visited again, bringing cheesecake and banana muffins to celebrate this project and enjoy some fellowship with our new friends. John was asked to move a smaller trailer for the pastor’s daughter – she now has a new ‘home’ next door to her family and is looking forward to decorating. There were no problems once it was hooked up and wiggled out of its site.
The weather in Mississippi this year was very hot and humid, thunder storms usually mid to late afternoons, and some very heavy rains multiple days in a row. We lost power (along with 9000 others) around 4:30 pm one evening, survived the night, used our invertor the next morning for the refrigerator, went shopping and the power was back when we returned. The air conditioners were turned on, Connie sat outside in the swing (cooler than in the RV) and it was still a bit warm inside when we went to bed, very thankful for electricity again! The heat index was above 100 most of the month. Our grasshopper-type bug returned this year on our porch; think we had one a couple of years ago. We were without cell phone service for two days the end of the month realizing how dependent we are on our instant information and entertainment!
Exercise was mostly swimming this month. John remained fairly consistent with his routines while Connie became lazy. A little weight loss, perhaps a pound each, until our vacation week (think we both gained about 5 pounds) – we’re still working on reducing that number! Only three walks in Mississippi and now we even take a few ‘alone’ due to the heat.
Connie’s big accomplishments for the month were making homemade chicken and noodles, getting slightly soggy vacation Garrett’s popcorn crunchy again, and getting her sewing machine out of the loft for some mending. She had a bit of dizziness one day, and started reading a real book (Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance) which is enlightening and thought provoking. (The Kindle she received on vacation is not yet cooperating.) John did get his MRI early in the month which didn’t show much difference from the one last August. His endocrinologist ordered another blood test which he did last week.
Vacation time! We started Monday the 20th, picked up our rental car (Hyundai Elantra) and dropped off our truck for some major repairs. We left around 9:30 Tuesday morning with prayers for our travels and for our RV – the first time we’ve not been around for an extended period. It was a very big learning curve for our rental car – finally got our route to the display console and the cruise control figured out (mostly) by noon. The Elkhead Overlook (Hwy 50) was closed and most of the afternoon drive was winding hairpin curves at 40-45 mph, much more fun in a car! We arrived at Fall Creek State Park (Spencer, TN) early enough to walk through the Nature Center, cross the swinging bridge, and hike winding up and down trails to the overlook. Although it was a bit cooler and a mostly shady hike, Connie was overheated and John hiked the mile back, found a new friend, and got the car to pick her up. The search for an overnight room had only two options – $270 or $70, guess which one we chose?? We showered, had leftover travel food and ice cream for dinner, and slept great after all our exercise.
Wednesday breakfast was at Mel’s in Spencer followed by hotel check out and back to the park, this time to the falls overlook parking lot. We saw a brilliant red-headed woodpecker, alpacas, deer out of the park, and a camel at the riding stable before starting a 20–30-minute hike down to the base of the falls. There were swimmers who said the falls were warm but the pool was a bit chilly. Connie ventured as close as possible to the falls, but the rocks were slippery and the spray was cool. After another 30-minute hike back up to the car we set our route to Townsend, TN (to connect with a retired dulcimer builder) and passed a field containing reindeer with spotted fawns. We never did connect with the dulcimer builder and continued on more winding narrower roads (35-40 mph this time) to Gatlinburg around 5:30 pm (1-hour time change) and a wonderful room and family time together.
Thursday morning was a great time of eventual gathering in our room for breakfast and conversation. We all had tickets for the 3:30 Dollywood Stampede dinner show where everyone enjoyed the food, horses, bison, pig chase, chicken race, lights, music, and of course too much food! Friday was our Dollywood day arriving around 10:30, staying mostly dry for about 45 minutes of light rain, catching rides for grandchildren (including a carousel for Connie) and adults, seeing the Gazillion Bubble Show, riding the steam train, and walking a lot. It was hot, a bit humid, and partly sunny in the afternoon and Connie needed an a/c break by 3:30. We all enjoyed some ice cream before leaving around 6pm.
Saturday morning was leisurely packing up, check out at 10, and on to Smokey Mountain Pancake House breakfast for 7 before saying our goodbye’s. What a wonderful few days with our oldest son and youngest son and his family. Good to remember old times and create new memories watching and being with our ambitious granddaughters of almost 2 and 5. We headed into Pigeon Forge for the Island water fountain show surrounded by life-size dinosaur statues then back to Townsend and a drive along a beautiful stream headed up a mountain to Cades Cove. We drove very slowly along the 11-mile loop around the ‘valley’ on top that once housed 130 families, 700 people in a thriving community with the most modern school in the county; only a few historic buildings remain. Our last night on the road was in Athens, TN where we realized it was about 10 degrees warmer out of the mountains.
Sunday morning, we woke finding the a/c kept the room cool but wasn’t removing any humidity, everything felt damp and the ‘free breakfast’ was a packaged sweet roll, juice, and coffee – very disappointing. Our route avoided the dreaded I75/I24 route through Chattanooga, taking highways and only 3 miles on I24. From there it was Highway 72 through Alabama, a stop at Captain D’s for lunch in Scottsboro just beating the noon church rush, and home ~3pm. We enjoy Captain D’s Sunday (and Wednesday) senior specials and were surprised to have our food before we had time to get our drinks! Everything was good in the RV, only a stinky sewer smell, and it was HOT outside. After unpacking and John getting a short nap, we went to the evening study at church. Monday, we borrowed a friend’s pickup truck, returned our rental car, and got our truck from the shop a few days later. Some engine work, an oil leak, a wheel bearing, headlights, and greatly appreciated lowering of the running boards!
Fellowship with others is so important, and we realized how special these times are. The week we were ‘on vacation’ seemed like a month when we returned! We enjoyed three date nights, one Mexican dinner meal (payment for our help), one Chinese buffet (us paying for borrowing their truck), one Sunday after church meal, and John was treated to a meal or two for riding along. Of course, fellowship brings relationships, so needed and appreciated as John dealt with continued lawn mower starting issues. Twice it went away for repairs and we think it is finally fixed. A few sessions with the weed whacker kept things presentable.
The contractor continued work on the bath remodel, finishing up mid-month. Connie patched up the ceiling texture, we did some mopping and vacuuming, and finished up the painting inside and out. We’re getting closer to having this room finished up as a guest room/shop. John has been busy, the ceilings are brushed off ready for paint, and Connie has the primer on the bathroom cabinet. Our next goal will be laying carpet tile, maybe being all done this month!
DEVOTION THOUGHTS THIS MONTH:
** Everything we have is a gift from God – a gift that is best viewed “on loan.”
**Be patient when you do not yet see answers to your prayers. Remain faithful in prayer and your daily life, trusting that He can turn terrible events into good. ALL things are possible with God.
** Jesus may work through your compassion, mercy, and love; you were created for good works which God has already prepared you for. You do not have to conjure them up for yourself – just be obedient to His call for you to engage every day.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
We so appreciate your prayers and notes of encouragement!!
John and Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
Purchase our songs: SaltyStrings.com/shop
Contact Information:
Mail: John & Connie Nicholas
Salty Strings Music Ministry
30A Hwy 367
Burnsville, MS 38833
Phone – John 909-336-8910 or Connie 909-336-8912
Email – SaltyStrings@hotmail.com
Facebook – Salty Strings Music Ministry
Web site – SaltyStrings.com
ONLINE DONATIONS via PayPal through our web site
TRAVEL PLANS AND UPCOMING LOCATIONS (*Tentative Dates)
> August 26 – Jolly Seniors, Lincoln Christian Church, Lincoln,
> August 23*-September 9* – Clinton, IL – Little Galilee, Family Camp, family visits
> September 10*-16* – South Beloit, IL – Wisconsin friends and family visits
> September 16*-24* – Carlinville, IL – Memorial Christian Church friends
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