.
2025 July 31 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
📷Proof of Life Photo📸
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Linda, Dianna, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Larry, Rose, Donna, Ella, and I.
👴👵OVER THE HILL GANG: There were forty-six of us for baked potatoes, fixings, salads, and desserts. And afterwards various games.
NEWS: 1. A very strong earthquake hit near Russia, causing big waves in Russia and Japan. The US West Coast is also on alert for possible waves. Hawaii is telling people to leave to stay safe.
2. President Trump announced new tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on various countries, with the highest rates facing India and Brazil. Some countries negotiated lower tariffs by making investments in the US.
3.The US will eliminate the duty-free exemption for packages valued below $800.
4.Pakistan is expected to finalize a deal soon.
5. The US and India are sending a satellite into space that can take very detailed pictures of the Earth's surface with high resolution. This satellite will be able to capture changes on the Earth's surface as small as one centimeter. The satellite will be able to take pictures of the same spot on Earth every 12 days.
6. A very strong earthquake off Russia's coast triggered a tsunami warning for Hawaii and the US West Coast, but the threat has decreased. The earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded.
AGENDA THU July 31
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
👴👵11:00 a Over The Hill Gang✔️
🛍️2:30 p HCCM (Lacy Drive)✔️
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo Hills✔️
FRI August 1
Love your spouse
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
6:00 p Happy Hour
WEATHER: It reached 101° as predicted. We spent no more time outside than absolutely necessary.
🅱️🔟 BINGO: Ella had a good crowd for bingo this evening. She is talking about stopping hosting the Thursday night bingo.
FALL: I hadn't mentioned it earlier but Ella fell Tuesday evening and badly bruised her left arm. We were coming home from her physical therapy. I unlocked the apartment door and held it open for her. It was dark and both of us had our hands full and did not turn on the lights. She got her feet tangled in a cloth shopping bag handle and fell into the edge of the kitchen counter. She got herself into a seated position and I tried lifting her from behind but was unable. Her right shoulder has been replaced with a mechanical one. Her left shoulder slips and makes crunching sounds if she exerts it. So pulling her up by her arms wouldn't work. I seriously asked if I should call 911. She rolled to her hands and knees and with a little help from me and a chair got herself off the floor.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 65 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/70, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 2.0 myA per hour, Sleep 09:09 P.M. to 08:11 A.M., Total 10h 36m, Deep 04h 39m, Light 05h 28m, REM 00h 29m, Awake 00h 26m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 3381 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 30 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
📸Proof of Life Photo📷
COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val , Larry, Rose, Linda, Donna, Ella, and I were at coffee this morning.
🗓️AGENDA: WED July 30
❤️Love your spouse ✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ✔️
THU July 31 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
👴👵11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
🛍️2:30 p HCCM (Lacy Drive)
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo (Hills
🃏CANASTA AT OTHG: Anne, Sandy, Nathern, Ella, and I played cards until Ella, and I had to leave to get to the doctor's office.
🩺DOCTOR: Doctor Patel examined the report from Ella's physical therapist and gave her a referral to the doctor who replaced Ella's other shoulder.
🥪LUNCH: After Ella's doctor appointment we ate at IHOP. Ella had French toast, eggs, and bacon. I had a crispy chicken sandwich on a hoagie bun. It had lettuce, tomato, avocado, bacon, 4 cheese blend, and ranch dressing. It came with fries. We also split an Oreo shake.
📦PACKAGE: I received a rather crumpled looking package today. Judging from the outside I didn't hold a lot of hope for what was inside the thing. I took multiple photos of each stage of opening the things just in case I needed to file a damage report. Despite everything, the contents were okay.
♟️GAMES: This evening Ella and six of her friends gathered in the community room to play Rummikub. They had two different tables playing.
🌡️🥵WEATHER: We officially reached 100° actual temperature today. I've no idea what the heat index was.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 65 bpm, Blood Pressure 110/75, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 0.6 myA per hour, Sleep 10:10 P.M. to 07:01 A.M., Total 09h 41m, Deep 03h 50m, Light 03h 51m, REM 01h 00m, Awake 01h 10m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 2340 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 29 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park
AGENDA: TUE July 29
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy✔️
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns✔️
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train✔️
WED July 30 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏10:00 a Canasta at OTHG
COFFEE KLATSCH: Ella, Donna, Sandy, Linda, ?, Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Maria, Muriel, and I were at coffee today. Actually Joan and Grace chased Donna away saying that she is contagious with shingles. The fact is, “Shingles is not directly contagious: You can not get shingles from someone who has it.
The varicella-zoster virus is: The virus that causes shingles is the same one that causes chickenpox. If someone who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine comes into contact with the fluid from a shingles blister, they can contract the virus and develop chickenpox not shingles.” - (WHO)
World Health Organization
🏋️PT: This appears to be Ella's last trip to the physical therapist because she is NOT improving. She had been told to make an appointment with Doctor Patel to determine what to do next.
WEATHER: About 198 million people, which is half of the population of the United States, are currently under a heat advisory. Locally our temperatures are in the upper 90s this week with next Monday expected to be over 100° for the second time this summer. Today topped out at 98° with a heart index of 104°.
NEWS: 1. Google has improved its early earthquake warning system after it did not alert 10 million people before a deadly earthquake in Turkey in 2023. The system now uses the accelerometers in over 2 billion phones to detect earthquakes.
2. A new technology uses dental floss to deliver vaccines, which has been shown to boost the immune response in the nose and lungs.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 66 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/77, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 2.2 per hour, Sleep 09:10 P.M. to 07:30 A.M., Total 10h 07m, Deep 04h 55m, Light 04h 19m, Awake 00h 13m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 1580 Steps.
GAMES: There were three different games taking place this evening; Five Crowns , Mexican Train, and a game similar to Uno.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 28 Monday in Leander
Proof of Life Photo
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Dianna, Sara, Linda, Sandy, Maria, Larry, Rose, Ella, and I were at coffee. Linda is new to the complex. She is originally from Kentucky.
🍳BREAKFAST: Fresh baked biscuits, sausage, egg, and buttery grits (or milk and sugar grits for Ella) are what a fixed for breakfast
❓QUESTION: The question was asked, “If you could bring back one dinosaur, which one would it be?” My immediate answer would be, “The smallest one.” I have not seen all of the Jurassic Park movies. But I've seen enough! I wouldn't WANT to bring ANY of them back into existence. But particularly nothing huge that might consider me to be a meal or an hors d'oeuvres.
FAST TRACK: Ella won one and Tom won one.
AGENDA: MON July 28
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🩸INR Check 2.5✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏 5:00 Canasta✔️
TUE July 29 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train
🩸 INR: My blood clotting factor was 2.5 which is right in the middle of its preferred range.p
🌡️WEATHER:
NEWS: 1. The US and EU agreed on a trade deal with a 15% tariff on most EU goods, a reduction to 0% tariffs on some items like aircraft, and steel and aluminum staying at 50% tariffs. Negotiations are ongoing for tariffs on goods like wine.
2. Israel announced a temporary ceasefire in three areas of Gaza to help deliver aid. They will stop operations in these areas for 10 hours each day, from 10 am to 8 pm, until further notice. Israel has also started dropping aid from airplanes.
3. Ongoing fighting at the Thailand-Cambodia border has resulted in over 33 deaths and 168,000 people being forced to flee their homes.
4. In Greece, wildfires have led to evacuations for a second day, including near Athens, as temperatures soar to 112°.
🃏 CANASTA: There were five to play cards tonight; Barbara, Ann, Ella, Jo, and I. Barbara had to leave before the game was over. We started at five and finished at eight-thirty. I won but really I was just glad the game was over. We were all tired.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 66 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/77, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 2.2 per hour, Sleep 09:10 P.M. to 07:30 A.M., Total 10h 07m, Deep 04h 55m, Light 04h 19m, Awake 00h 13m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 2640 Steps, INR 2.5.
📖VERSE: Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
🗣️COMMENT: In this passage, we witness a clash between Jesus's all-encompassing attitude and the rigid religious traditions followed by the Pharisees and teachers of the law. The general population, including those deemed as outcasts such as tax collectors and sinners, are drawn to Jesus. However, the religious authorities condemn him for mingling with them, especially by partaking in meals together. This emphasizes a significant disparity in their interpretations of God's love and embrace
Today is a good day to check one's own: prejudices. Are we inclusive or exclusive?
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 27 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill
AGENDA: SUN July 27
🎂Eduardo E's birthday✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church✔️
📖9:00 a Sunday school✔️
💒10:00 a Worship✔️
MON July 28 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
🩸INR Check (Home)
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
☕COFFEE BAR AT CHURCH: We arrived at church at 7:57 as we're getting out of the car. We heard the main sanctuary door automatically unlock itself and the bell in the chapel began ringing. Ella began making coffee and bringing out the treats for the coffee bar. While she did that, I unlocked the remainder of the sanctuary doors. Today I did not set the chairs down off of the cafe tables. I decided that was a job for a younger man today.
📖SUNDAY SCHOOL: Welcome to Dinner, Church
💒WORSHIP. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/168BGZmPr7/
🌡️WEATHER: There was no drizzle, sprinkle, shower, or thunderstorm today.
🍸COFFEE¿. When we arrived home the Sunday Morning Bloody Mary Group was still going strong. We sat with them for a while. Evidently they mixed the Marys spicy and strong. Dotty, who normally does not drink, had mostly finished a ten ounce plastic cupfull and was feeling woozy. I ate a couple of the pimento olives and two spicy pickled green beans that they were adding to their drinks. I love olives (green or black). The beans were nice and spicy but oddly sweet due to honey in the mix. Ella had reached her limit both of standing and sitting and declared that she was going home to lie down. I followed her home.
🍱LUNCH: Once home I microwave some leftovers for our lunch. I like leftovers. They are proof of God's good provision. Minutes later I coaxed Ella from the bed to the table to eat. After a quick cleanup we both retired to the bed.
😴NAPTIME: I watched a couple YouTube videos and then joined Ella in napping. I wrote my sleep mask and used the CPAP.
😋SNACK: I got up from my nap with the decision to make some vanilla pudding. Rather than making it from scratch as I usually do I used a packet of cook-and-serve vanilla pudding mix. Once it was done Ella joined me at the table.
♟️FAST TRACK: While we waited for the pudding to cool below the danger point we played a board game. Then while we ate we played two more.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 73 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/70, Oxygen 95%, Stopped breathing 2.2 per hour, Sleep 11:42 P.M. to 06:27 A.M., Total 05h 10m, Deep 02h 30m, Light 02h 40m, Awake 01h 35m, 64% of Goal, Weight 277, 1880 Steps.
QUOTE: I heard this quote today. “Only Christians are awake on Sunday mornings.” I'm not sure I like that statement. What do you think?
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 26 Saturday in Leander
📷Proof of Life Photo📸
🗓️AGENDA SAT July 26
💔Pace Maker's birthday Turns 2✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕11:00 a Brunch✔️
SUN July 27 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church
📖9:00 a Sunday school
💒10:00 a Worship
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Officially our coffee group was suspended for today so that the community room could be setup and ready for the brunch at 11:00. So I had coffee all alone on the patio
We ate, we sang, and we heard a message. “I Love People. It's Just Persons I Can't stand.”
📦HOMELESS: During the Santa season, on my way to and from the mall, I encounter a lot of folks with “HOMELESS” signs. I carry packages to hand them. The bags contain water, heat and serve meal, meal replacement drink, meal replacement bar, raisins, socks, conditioner, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, fast shower wet wipes, and so forth. This afternoon we started assembling the bags with those items that we had on hand. The drinks and food bars we will add later.
🌡️WEATHER: 🙂↕️ there were some clouds - see our proof of life photos above. We had more sunshine than predicted which made it much warmer also with an actual high of 93° that felt closer to 100.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 74 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/70, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 2.2 per hour, Sleep 09:09 P.M. to 07:55 A.M., Total 10h 31m, Deep 04h 17m, Light 05h 41m, Awake 00h 15m, REM 00h 33m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 2830 Steps. 2445 355
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 25 Friday in Leander and Cedar Park
Some artsy filters on my photo
AGENDA: FRI July 25
Love your spouse✔️
9:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella✔️
6:00 p Happy Hour✔️
SAT July 26 tomorrow
Pace Maker's birthday (Turns 2)
Love your spouse
9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
WEATHER: It reached 92° that felt more like 98° which was far better than yesterday's 99 that felt like 106.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 65 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/75, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 2.2 per hour, Sleep 10:54 P.M. to 07:46 A.M., Total 08h 19m, Deep 02h 5/39m, Light 04h 07m, Awake 00h 33m, REM 00h 32m, 91% of Goal, Weight 277, 2230 Steps.
PHYSICAL THERAPY: Early in early out. Ella's therapy was for nine this morning. We arrived twenty minutes early. Ella did her exercises like a good girl. She was back in the car just before ten.
BREAKFAST: Ella suggested 1431 Dinner for breakfast. They have great breakfasts. Not cheap breakfasts. But great breakfasts. Ella had a veggie omelet with grits and 2 slices of toast. I had chicken-fried steak, eggs, grits, and a biscuit. We saw some friends (Jim and Pam) were there when we arrived. Ella sat with them until our food arrived.
NEWS: 1. The US fertility rate hit a record low last year, with less than 1.6 children born per woman. This is a big drop from 1957 when the rate was 3.8 children per woman. In the past, the US had enough births to replace older generations, with about 2.1 children per woman. Now, the US rate is similar to Western Europe, where fertility rates have been low for a long time.
2. A recent discovery in the Grand Canyon has revealed new ancient species that lived around 500 million years ago. This helps scientists understand more about the Cambrian explosion, a period of rapid evolutionary development.
3. Scientists have found specific genes that, when blocked, prevent the Ebola virus from spreading in the body. This could lead to new treatments for dangerous diseases.
4. UnitedHealth is being looked into by the government for how it bills Medicare, and they are also reviewing their own policies. They are the biggest private health insurance company in America.
CHAIRS: I have assembled our two new chairs. They are not a direct match with the others but close enough I think. The reason I bought two new chairs is because two of our existing four are on weak legs. I've attempted to repair them with very limited success. However, now that I have the special allen wrench / hex key that came with the new chairs, I may have more luck fixing the existing chairs.
HAPPY HOUR: Attendance for this evening's event was down to about half of last week's. People also didn't stay quite as long as I remember from previous events. I believe some may have gathered outside around the pool or patio.
TOMORROW'S BRUNCH:
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 24 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
Proof of Life Photo
BREAKFAST: I made biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast.
COFFEE KLATSCH: Grace, Suzie, call, Muriel, Donna, Sandy, Maria, Andria, Ricky, Donna, Ella, and I were there for coffee this morning.
WEATHER:
OVER THE HILL GANG: Forty-five members arrived to have chicken (BBQ, fried, or broiled), several kinds of potatoes, at least 3 variety of beans, other salads and finger foods, plus a plethora of desserts.
And then the games began. Five Crowns, cards, dominoes, and bingo
AGENDA: THU July 24
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang✔️
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo✔️
FRI July 25 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🏥HEALTH: Heart 72 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/78, Oxygen 95%, Stopped breathing 0.8 per hour, Sleep 10:45 P.M. to 07:31 A.M., Total 08h 33m, Deep 02h 57m, Light 04h 55m, Awake 00h 13m, REM 00h 41m, 100% of Goal, Weight 277, 1234 Steps.
NEWS:
The US government, under President Trump, has announced a new AI policy to promote innovation and stay ahead of China in AI development. They plan to make it easier to build data centers by relaxing environmental regulations and investing in training programs for in-demand jobs. Overall, they aim to take over 90 actions within a year to accelerate AI growth in the country.
The United Nations' court said not taking action on climate change may break international law. This sets a precedent for future agreements and lawsuits. For example, if a country doesn't reduce its carbon emissions, it could be taken to court for violating human rights.
Scientists have developed a way to genetically modify mosquitoes so they can no longer spread malaria. By changing just one tiny molecule in the mosquitoes, they are able to prevent the malaria parasite from being passed on to people when the mosquitoes bite them. This genetic alteration is designed to spread through mosquito populations so that eventually, all mosquitoes will be resistant to transmitting malaria.
Over 100 aid organizations warn of mass starvation in Gaza, accuse the IsraeliWhole government of restricting, delaying food deliveries.
Plants like corn release water vapor into the air through a process called evapotranspiration. A single acre of corn can release thousands of gallons of water vapor every day, which can add up to billions of gallons for a large crop. This process helps to make areas with a lot of corn, like Iowa, very humid. For example, a large corn crop in Illinois can produce enough water vapor in a day to fill over 52,500 Olympic-size swimming pools.
🅱️🔟BINGO:
2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 23 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill 
COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Rose, Larry, Donna, Ricky, Bruce, Ella, and I were at coffee today.
🃏CANASTA at OTHG: Nathern and Ann were unable to play cards with us this morning. Sandy, Ella, and I played three or four hands. I won.
LIBERTY TAVERN: For lunch we stopped at what had been Hobo Depot, then Hobo Junction, and then The Tavern, but is now Liberty Tavern. We ordered the BOGO burger. By one get one. I had the spicy burger and Ella had the tavern burger. They were huge double meat cheese burgers. I ate mine and Ella brought half of hers home. I think we will both skip supper tonight.
🎂2ND SECOND BIRTHDAY: Two years ago I died (several times) but was reborn. The following is an account from that day.
I had a pacemaker implanted a couple days later. Below is a printout of the EKG graph taken by the paramedics during my ride to the hospital. You can see where I flatlined. This was one of many times that my heart stopped that day.
🗓️AGENDA: WED July 23
💔Artial Flutter's ✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏10:00 a Canasta✔️
THU July 24 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo
🎴GAMES: Ella played Rummikub this evening.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 64 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/73, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 0.8 per hour, Sleep 09:50 P.M. to 07:40 A.M., Total 09h 50m, Deep 06h 00m, Light 03h 50m, Awake 00h 15m, REM 01h 25m, 100% of Goal, Weight 276.0, 2421 Steps.
NEWS:
Coca-Cola is introducing a new version of its soda sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. This comes after President Trump and Health Secretary Kennedy expressed concerns about artificial ingredients. The two sweeteners are similar, but high-fructose corn syrup has slightly more fructose, which some research suggests may lead to health problems like fat buildup. However, experts say both sweeteners are safe and have similar calorie content.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its policies so that t,ransgender women are not allowed to compete in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic women's sports to comply with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.
Japan is suggesting building a new nuclear power plant, which would be the first one since the Fukushima disaster in 2011. This disaster occurred after a tsunami hit leading to the deaths of over 2,300 people and caused a meltdown in the plant,
President Trump made trade deals with the Philippines and Japan. In the Philippines, American goods will not be taxed, but Philippine goods coming into the US will face a 19% tariff. This agreement is in exchange for US military cooperation with the Philippines. In Japan, imported goods from the US will have a 15% levy. Additionally, Japan will invest $550 billion in the US.
Elon Musk opened a new Tesla Diner in Hollywood, California, that has charging stations and two 66-foot movie screens. The diner serves American comfort food in Tesla-themed packaging. Musk said if it goes well, he’s looking to put them “in major cities around the world.”
HOT AIR: At about 11:00 PM it was 81° in our apartment with the thermostat set at 76. The fan was running and blowing hot air. We will let maintenance know about it tomorrow morning. There's nothing they would do tonight because it's no an emergency
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 22 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park 
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: We did not make it to coffee because of Tom's doctor appointment.
🍳🥞BREAKFAST: Yesterday I posted that I might try cooking the egg and sausage right into the pancake. This morning I did just that. It was okay although the baked egg had a nearly plastic texture which was mildly off-putting.
AGENDA: TUE July 22
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills❌
🩺9:40 a Tom to Hill Country Orthopedics✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella✔️
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns✔️
WED July 23 tomorrow
💔Artial Flutter's
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏10:00 a Canasta
📖6:30 p BIBLE STUDY
🦶ORTHOPEDICS: Tom saw Dr. McSpadden about his feet. The foot cream that Kamal prescribed for me has worked. My feet are free of scales. He did give me an exercise to repeat three times a day for five minutes each. That should alleviate the pain in my ankles.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 66 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/73, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 09:08 P.M. to 06:54 A.M., Total 09h 30m, Deep 02h 45m, Light 05h 20m, Awake 00h 15m, REM 01h 25m, 100% of Goal, Weight 276.0, 2263 Steps.
🥩🥔🥗LUNCH: Southside Market is a new addition to the immediate area, but their brochure proudly proclaims them as the oldest BBQ joint in all of Texas. My bride Ella and I decided to give it a try and were pleasantly surprised by the kid's plate she ordered, which came with chopped brisket and mac and cheese. As for myself, I opted for the brisket plate with a side salad and baked potato, which were the only non-onion containing side dishes. The brisket itself was deliciously moist and flavorful, and neither of us felt the need to add any sauce to our meat. Overall, our experience at Southside Market was a positive one, and we look forward to returning to try other menu items in the future. They also have many flavors of real scoopable ice cream which we will have to save room for next time.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 21 Monday in Leander 
COFFEE KLATSCH: Jan, Donna, Ricky, Ella, Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, call
AGENDA: MON July 21
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🩸INR Check (Home)2.3✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏5:00 p Canasta✔️
TUE July 22 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🩺9:40 a Tom to Hill Country Orthopedics (1301.
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train
LUNCH: For our noon meal, I prepared penne pasta with garlic and sausage marinara and Parmesan cheese. I believe it turned out exceptionally tasty.
WEATHER:
NEWS:
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 recently signed a declaration in Qatar moving towards a permanent ceasefire to end a long-standing conflict. The violence began after the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when millions of refugees fled into eastern DRC. The conflict led to two wars in the late 1990s, resulting in over 6 million deaths. This year, M23 captured two cities, leading to more violence and displacement of over 7 million people.
In Japan, the ruling party lost its majority in the upper house election. This puts pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government. Although losing control of the upper house does not immediately remove the Prime Minister from office, there is a tradition of resigning in such situations. Shigeru plans to stay on for now, citing trade negotiations with the United States. For example, if a company's CEO loses control of the board of directors, they may face pressure to step down, even if they are technically still in charge.
President Trump recently signed a new law allowing banks and other entities to start issuing digital currencies that are pegged to the value of the US dollar. This regulation will help ensure that these stablecoins are properly controlled and compliant with financial laws.
🃏CANASTA: Ann, Jane, Ella, Cindy (for one hand), Jo, Barbara, and myself played cards this evening. Ella and I won.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 71 bpm, Blood Pressure 115/70, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 11:09 P.M. to 08:04 A.M., Total 08h 55m, Deep 03h 38m, Light 04h 36m, Awake 00h 00m, REM 00h 41m, 100% of Goal, Weight 275.0, 2263 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 20 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill 
BREAKFAST: pancakes and eggs. I've been experimenting with pancakes made in the toaster oven. It makes one large cake that I cut into fourths. It saves a lot of time in rushed mornings like today. I think I'll try cooking eggs and sausage right in the pancake.
AGENDA: SUN July 20 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church✔️
📖9:00 a Sunday school✔️
💒10:00 a Worship✔️
MON July 21 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
🩸INR Check (Home)
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏5:00 p Canasta
SUNDAY SCHOOL: We are continuing our study using the book by Amy-Jill Levine titled “The Difficult Words Of Jesus”
WORSHIP:
Genesis 1:9-13 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
GAMES: Ella and some of her friends played Rummikub for a couple of hours this evening. I don't know who won.
WEATHER: There were no sprinkles. The actual high for the day was 89° which was a little cooler than predicted.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 66 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/78, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 10:10 P.M. to 06:40 A.M., Total 08h 02m, Deep 02h 53m, Light 05h 57m, Awake 00h 28m, REM 01h 03m, 100% of Goal, Weight 275.0, 2263 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 19 Saturday in Leander
COFFEE KLATSCH: Sandy, Fran, Tom, Ella, Dianna, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, and Michelle were there..
AGENDA: SAT July 19
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
SUN July 20 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church
📖9:00 a Sunday school
💒10:00 a Worship
NEWS: The US House approved $9 billion in cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid programs, following President Trump's budget plan. This marks the first time in over 20 years that Congress has agreed to cancel already approved spending. The bill now goes to Trump for approval.
FAST TRACK: We played three or four games of Fast Track today. Each of us winning at least once
🏥HEALTH: Heart 64 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/72, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 09:09 P.M. to 06:29 A.M., Total 08h 34m, Deep 02h 42m, Light 05h 24m, Awake 00h 46m, REM 00h 28m, 100% of Goal, Weight 275.0, 2129 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 18 Friday in Leander, Liberty Hill, and Cedar Park
COFFEE KLATSCH: Andria, Dianna, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Muriel, Larry, Rose, Ella, and I were at this mornings coffee. Joan brought small donuts and croissants.
AGENDA: FRI July 18
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella✔️ 🎉Over The Hill Gang anniversary July 18, 1998✔️
🎉6:00 p Happy Hour✔️
SAT July 19 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
BREAKFAST: Our standard breakfast is one egg, one sausage patty, and one slice of toast.
NEWS:
In the UK, eight babies were born using a special IVF technique that combines DNA from three people to prevent inherited mitochondrial diseases. The babies were born to women at a fertility center in northeastern England. The technique involves using the father's sperm, the mother's egg, and a donor egg with healthy mitochondria, with a very small portion of the baby's DNA coming from the donor.
The House of Representatives is voting today on a Senate bill to cut $9 billion from foreign aid and public broadcasting.
An Israeli attack on a church in Gaza accidentally killed three people and injured 10 others, including the priest. Israel admits it was a mistake.
LUNCH: I asked Ella what she wanted for lunch. Jordan Corona in Liberty Hill makes an enchilada in white sauce that she really loves. And I really love her so off we went. I was pleasantly surprised to find food with no onions that I could eat.
GROCERIES: The Walmart order (minus 2 kitchen chairs) was delivered this afternoon.
The chairs will arrive on or before July 24. Two of our four kitchen chairs are unsafe to sit upon. The chairs I've ordered don't quite match but they are close enough and are considerably less expensive than the IKEA chairs they'll replace.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 77 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/70, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 10:02 P.M. to 06:57 A.M., Total 07h 57m, Deep 02h 15m, Light 04h 50m, Awake 00h 58m, REM 00h 52m, 99% of Goal, Weight 275.0, 2117 Steps.
WEATHER:
🎉 HAPPY HOUR: There were around two dozen there this evening. Plenty of food too. We played Two Truths And A Lie. Ella was the overall winner by knowing which were lies.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 17 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
☕ COFFEE KLATSCH: Fran, Andrea, Michelle, Joan, Muriel, Donna, Ricky, Grace, Michelle, Val, Dianna, Ella, and I.
OVER THE HILL GANG: At least 50 members were there today for pizza, salads and sides, plus a variety of desserts. Many games and discussions happened after lunch.
NEWS:
A ceasefire was agreed upon between Syria's government and Druze leaders after Israel carried out airstrikes in the country. The ceasefire was announced the following day.
An aid group supported by Israel said Hamas caused a deadly stampede in Gaza, but Hamas denied it.
AGENDA: THU July 17
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang✔️
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo at the Hills✔️
FRI July 18 tomorrow
FRI July 18
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella 🎉Over The Hill Gang anniversary July 18, 1998
🎉6:00 p Happy Hour
🅱️🔟BINGO AT THE HILLS: from about five thirty to nearly seven thirty Ella hosts bingo on Thursday evenings. Officially it is from six until seven but she had setup and takedown before and after.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 77 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/70, Oxygen 98%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 11:50 P.M. to 06:50 A.M., Total 07h 00m, Deep 02h 54m, Light 04h 06m, Awake 00h 00m, 88% of Goal, Weight 271.0, 1500 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 16 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
🃏CANASTA: The give of us were back together and had a lot of fun. Nathern out did us all by a wide margin.
🌡️WEATHER: Daytime 90° Mostly cloudy this morning then clearing. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
Nighttime 73° Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
🗓️AGENDA: WED July 16
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏10:00 a Canasta✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
✝️1:00 p Making Room for Jesus❌
THU July 17 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo at the Hills
TRAVELS: Yesterday
Today, after canasta, we took a drive to see some of the places where the road, bridges, and properties had been damaged by the floods in and around Liberty Hill. It was amazing to see what damage water can cause. Keeping in mind that this was very mild in comparison with what happened in the Kerrville area.
NEWS:
The flooding in Texas began on July 4th and has led to 134 confirmed deaths, with 101 people still missing. Most of the deaths occurred in Kerr County because the Guadalupe River overflowed. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, but it could take months to find all the victims.
Flash flooding in New York and New Jersey caused by heavy rain killed two people whose car was swept into a stream. The rain flooded parts of the subway system in New York City and left cars stuck in water.
Researchers have created a 3D printed material that looks and acts like real lung tissue. This could help scientists create and test new treatments for lung diseases without needing to use actual patients.
Smoke from wildfires in Canada has caused air quality alerts in the Upper Midwest, including Chicago. Toronto's air quality has been ranked as one of the worst in the world this week.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 63 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/70, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 11:33 P.M. to 07:04 A.M., Total 07h 04m, Deep 02h 43m, Light 03h 43m, Awake 00h 55m, REM 00h 38m, 88% of Goal, Weight 271.0, 1865 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 15 Tuesday in Leander and Round Rock
COFFEE KLATSCH: Ricky, Donna, Sandy, Jo, Ella, Jan, Fran, Donna Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Maria, Dianna, Michelle, and I were at coffee today.
AGENDA: TUE July 15
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🩸INR Check (Home)
🙏10:00 a Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella✔️
🧺1:30 p food pantry +55✔️
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns❌
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train❌
🥪5:00 p Supper Adam & family✔️
WED July 16 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏10:00 a Canasta
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
✝️1:00 p Making Room for Jesus
WEATHER: Day 86° Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Night 75° Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
------------
Leander, Texas
FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
* WHERE...A portion of south central Texas, including the following counties, Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Llano, Medina, Real, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde and Williamson.
* WHEN... Through this afternoon.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks.
🗞️ NEWS:
Today, the US House of Representatives is discussing three new bills related to cryptocurrency, which is being called "Crypto Week". This could lead to the first major crypto laws in the country. Bitcoin's value reached a record high yesterday, trading at over $123,000 due to the hope of clearer regulations.
In a court in Miami, the first federal trial against Tesla began yesterday. It involves a crash in 2019 where a Tesla Model S, using Autopilot, hit a parked SUV while the driver was distracted. This resulted in a tragic outcome for the people involved.
The popular children's show "Bluey" has become the most streamed US show in the first half of 2025, with over 25 billion minutes viewed. Also, an HBO series based on "Harry Potter" has started production and is set to be released in 2027.
The Defense Department has awarded contracts totaling up to $200 million to Google, Anthropic, xAI, and OpenAI to create artificial intelligence systems for national security purposes.
A significant milestone has been achieved in quantum computing, with a photonic quantum device successfully integrated into a commercial electronic chip for the first time. This advancement brings us closer to developing light-based quantum computers.
The US Supreme Court has approved the Trump administration's decision to lay off more than 1,300 employees at the Department of Education, essentially dismantling the agency.
🧺FOOD PANTRY +55: From the food pantry we received; two shelf stable milk, 2lb frozen ground beef, 2lb broken rice, 2 packs of dried pitted dates, 4 pks oatmeal, 2 pks floor, 1 bunch fresh spinach, 4 cans green beans, 2 cans asparagus, 2 cans black beans, 1 pk rice, 1 container cherry tomatoes, 2 cans tuna, 1 small watermelon, 6 nectarines, and 2 individual cups of mixed fruit.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 75 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/68, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 11:16 P.M. to 07:18 A.M., Total 07h 25m, Deep 02h 21m, Light 04h 17m, Awake 00h 37m, REM 01h 04m, 92% of Goal, Weight 271.0, 2440 Steps.
VERSE: Romans 8:5-10 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-indeed, it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. - NRSVUE
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 14 Monday in Leander
Proof of Life Photo
COFFEE KLATSCH: Muriel, Sylvia, Ricky, Sandy, Maria, Ella, Jo, Dianna, Joan, Grace, Ziva, Precious, and I were at coffee. Ziva and Precious received new dig toys with which to play.
AGENDA: MON July 14
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🩸INR Check (Home)❌
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
🩺12:30 p Kamal / Ella followup✔️
🃏5:00 p Canasta✔️
TUE July 15 Tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🩸INR Check (Home)
🙏10:00 a Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella 🧺1:30 p food pantry +55
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train
🥪5:00 p Supper Adam & family
🌡️WEATHER: Day 87° Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the morning then partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Night 75° Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph.
🗞️ NEWS:
President Trump announced 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico to reduce the US trade deficit and boost manufacturing. Some countries agreed to new arrangements to avoid tariffs.
In a tragic incident, an Air India flight crashed due to fuel control switches being shut off after takeoff.
An Israeli strike killed civilians in Gaza while targeting a militant.
🩺DOCTOR: Ella's follow-up with Kamal was fine. It is determined that she does NOT need an MRI on her breasts. The mammogram was sufficient. Though further bloodwork was discussed it was later countermanded.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 59 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/70, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 09:10 P.M. to 06:29 A.M., Total 08h 25m, Deep 02h 57m, Light 04h 24m, Awake 00h 54m, REM 01h 04m, 100% of Goal, Weight 269.2, 2032 Steps.
VERSE: Romans 10:9-13. “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - NRSVUE
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 13 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill
BREAKFAST: Frozen waffles with frozen omelet.
COFFEE BAR: While Ella began brewing coffee I turned on lights, unlocked doors, and began setting chairs down from the tables.
WORSHIP: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17e5wsCmBq/
After passing the peace (hugging, shaking hands, and greeting everyone) we form a ring around the edge of the church, hold hands, and sing the opening song. Today there was a lack of children for the children's sermon so, just as I had done several weeks ago, I went up for the children's sermon. Today I was joined by others who are also children at heart.
AGENDA: SUN July 13
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕8:00 a Coffee at CTC ✔️
📚8:00 a Sunday school✔️
💒9:00 a Worship✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
MON July 14 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
🩸INR Check (Home)
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🩺12:30 p Kamal / Ella followup
🃏5:00 p Canasta
WEATHER: Here we go again!
Daytime temperature 78° Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms this morning then a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. [The chance became reality.] Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall this morning. [They did!] Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall this afternoon. [Not near us] Highs in the lower 90s. [Topped out at 81°] South winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.[100%]
Nighttime 74° Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
INVITE: We have been invited for dinner [supper] at Adam and Leigha's' on Tuesday evening.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 59 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/70, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.3 per hour, Sleep 09:10 P.M. to 06:29 A.M., Total 08h 25m, Deep 02h 57m, Light 04h 24m, Awake 00h 54m, REM 01h 04m, 100% of Goal, Weight 269.2, 2032 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 12 Saturday in Leander
Proof of Life Photo
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Muriel, Sylvia, Sandy, Dana, Fran, Jan, Ricky, Andrea, Ella, and I were at coffee today. The main topic discussed was theTownhall Meeting held yesterday which covered various topics, one of which was the new rule implemented by the apartment owners that prohibits individuals from swimming alone in the pool. While I was not present at the meeting, my bride Ella mentioned that the last few minutes were dominated by heated discussions about this particular rule. Some residents argued that the posted signs declaring "No Life Guard. Swim At Your Own Risk" should suffice as a release of legal responsibility for the management. However, others expressed concerns for the safety of the tenants, who are all at least sixty-two years old. Despite differing opinions, it is important to note that the apartment owners have the right to set and enforce rules as long as they do not contradict the law. Whether this rule is a liability issue or a genuine concern for the well-being of the residents remains unclear, but ultimately, it is up to the management to decide what is best for their property and tenants. I would like to point out the obvious, we are not prisoners here. We can abide by the rules or move.
🌡️WEATHER: The forecast for the day calls for partly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. It will be a hot and humid day with highs in the lower nineties and south winds of five to ten miles per hour, with gusts up to twenty miles per hour. The chance of rain is at forty percent, so there is a possibility of some relief from the heat in the form of showers. As night falls, the skies will become mostly cloudy after being partly cloudy in the evening. There is still a slight chance of thunderstorms and showers, with temperatures dropping to the mid seventies. The south winds will continue at five to ten miles per hour, providing some relief from the heat but also carrying the potential for storms. It's important to stay hydrated and be prepared for changing weather conditions throughout the day and into the night.
🗓️AGENDA: SAT July 12
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
👐1:00 p Second Hand Saturday✔️
SUN July 13 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕8:00 a Coffee at CTC
📚8:00 a Sunday school
💒9:00 a Worship
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
👐SECOND HAND SATURDAY: Ella spent a good deal of time helping with the setup for this monthly event. She also picked out a pair of earphones for herself.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 74 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/74, Oxygen 95%, Stopped breathing 2.4 per hour, Sleep 11:15 P.M. to 07:34 A.M., Total 06h 36m, Deep 02h 19m, Light 03h 55m, Awake 00h 43m, REM 00h 22m, 82% of Goal, Weight 271.6, 3126 Steps.
📖VERSE: Luke 14:25-26 Now large crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. - NRSVUE
🗣️COMMENTARY: The fifth of the Ten Commandments, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12), is often seen as a call to respect and cherish one’s parents. However, in the New Testament, we find Jesus, a good Jewish man, seemingly contradicting this commandment by saying that one must hate their father and mother to follow him. This statement is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a metaphor for the personal cost of discipleship. By using shocking words, Jesus emphasizes the importance of putting following him above all else, even familial ties and personal comforts. While not everyone is called to give up everything for their faith, it is crucial to prioritize obeying Jesus’ teachings and commandments above all else. This message serves as a reminder that true devotion to God requires sacrificial commitment and a willingness to let go of anything that may hinder our spiritual growth and discipleship. Ultimately, Jesus’ words highlight the importance of loving and honoring God above all else, even our closest relationships and worldly possessions.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 11 Friday in Leander and Cedar Park
📷Proof of Life Photo📷
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Donna, Sandy, Suzie, Maria, Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Andrea, Ella, and I were at coffee today. One topic of discussion was Maria's questions on her test for citizenship.
AGENDA: FRI July 11
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella✔️
🥪11:30 a 50+ Luncheon❌
🎉6:00 p Happy Hour✔️
SAT July 12 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
👐1:00 p Second Hand Saturday
🌡️WEATHER: Day 87° Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
Night 76° Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.
🏋️PHYSICAL THERAPY: Ella’s physical therapy had her holding a ball against the wall. I don't understand - but that's what she said. When we returned to the apartment, she checked in the exercise room but there was no ball the size that she needed.
🗞️NEWS:
A federal judge in New Hampshire blocked Trump's order on birthright citizenship nationwide.
Elon Musk's xAI released Grok 4, a language model trained on Colossus.
A bionic knee allows natural movement for above-the-knee amputees.
Hamas will release 10 hostages in ceasefire talks.
France and the UK agreed to a "one in, one out" system for migration.
🎉HAPPY HOUR: It had been quite some time since Ella and I were able to attend the usual Friday evening Happy Hour gatherings at home. In fact, I had to look back at my journals to figure out the last time we were able to attend, which turned out to be on June 13th. I distinctly remember noting in my journal that there were only a few people in attendance that day. However, tonight was a different story as the turnout was impressive and there was an abundance of food. We decided to contribute to the spread by bringing pinto beans with pork steak, along with other delicious additions such as fried tortilla chips, tortillas, salsa without onions, and shredded cheese. It was a delightful evening filled with great company and delicious food, making it well worth the wait since our last attendance. We spent some time visiting with newcomers Dee Dee and Max who are also from Iowa.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 79 bpm, Blood Pressure 125/71, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 2.4 per hour, Sleep 12:19 A.M. to 08:43 A.M., Total 07h 58m, Deep 02h 43m, Light 04h 30m, Awake 00h 26m, Weight 271.6, 2007 Steps.
📖VERSE: Galatians 3:15-22
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
New International Version
🗣️COMMENTARY: Paul asserts that if God made eternal promises to Abraham and his descendant [Jesus], based on faith and trust, then those terms have not been altered. This is evident in Romans 4:13, where he explains that Abraham did not receive the promise of being the world's heir through following the law, but through having faith in God's righteousness. Therefore, those who promote the idea of earning salvation through works are mistaken. It is impossible for them to be correct without God modifying the original agreement. Which is something God will not do.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 10 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Jo, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Muriel, Rose, Larry, Donna, Sylvia, Maria, Sandy, Donna, Ricky, Ella, and I plus some that I might have missed were at coffee this morning.
AGENDA: THU July 10
❤️ Love your spouse ✔️
☕ Coffee at the Hills ✔️
🙏 Do justice, love kindness, Walk Humbly with God ✔️
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang✔️
🅱️🔟 6:00 p Bingo✔️
FRI July 11 (Tomorrow)
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella
🥪11:30 a 50+ Luncheon
🎉6:00 p Happy Hour
🗞️NEWS:
Death toll rises to 120 in Texas, including Camp Mystic children, after flash floods
Rescuers are desperately searching for at least 173 people who are missing.
The lunch event was a hit as there were fifty-one members present, eagerly waiting to taste the delicious spread of spaghetti, garlic bread, salads and sides. The aroma of the freshly cooked meal filled the room, making everyone's mouth water. As they indulged in the scrumptious food, they engaged in lively conversations and laughter, building a sense of camaraderie amongst them. Once they had satisfied their appetites, they individually moved on to play various games. The atmosphere was filled with energy and excitement as they competed against each other. Everyone had a wonderful time, bonding over good food and fun games, making the day a memorable one for all.
🅱️🔟BINGO: Every Thursday at the Hills, it's bingo night. My bride was the host for the evening and she was in charge of picking which type of bingo we would be playing. She used her phone to randomly call out the numbers. I joined in for the last half hour, hoping to get lucky and win something. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side and I left empty-handed. Bingo night at the Hills is always a fun and enjoyable experience.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 67 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/72, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.6 per hour, Sleep 10:31 P.M. to 07:26 A.M., Total 09h 14m, Deep 02h 16m, Light 05h 20m, Awake 00h 41m, Weight 271.2, 2147 Steps. PSA .038 yay!
📖VERSE: Deuteronomy 30:11-14 "Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?' No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”
🗣️COMMENT: This passage directly addresses the concern that understanding and following God's commands may be too difficult. Moses reassures the people that this is not the case. He emphasizes that the commandments are not distant or difficult to discover, but rather easily accessible. They are meant to be both spoken and internalized, integrated into daily life rather than being abstract rules. This accessibility is further highlighted by the fact that the commandments are not hidden in inaccessible places, but rather within reach. Paul uses this passage in Romans to illustrate that salvation through faith in Jesus is also easily attainable, mirroring the accessibility of God's law in Deuteronomy. Ultimately, Deuteronomy 30:11-14 conveys a message of hope and encouragement, assuring the Israelites that God's law can be understood and followed through faith and obedience. It emphasizes the importance of internalizing God's word and making it a part of one's life.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 09 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
Proof of Life Photo
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: Donna, Jo, Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Ricky, Rose, Larry, Ella, and I were at coffee.
📖AGENDA:WED July 9
🫶Adam & Leigha’s Anniversary✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills🚂
🃏10:00 a Canasta✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
THU July 10. Tomorrow
❤️ Love your spouse
☕ Coffee at the Hills
🙏 Do justice, love kindness, Walk Humbly with God
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
🅱️🔟 6:00 p Bingo
🃏CANASTA: Ann, Nathan, Ella, and I played cards at OTHG. Charlie made a chicken salad for our lunch.
🧺 LAUNDRY: Ella spend most of the day with the laundry.
🌡️WEATHER: Day 83° Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs around 90. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Night 73° Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph.
🗞️NEWS:
According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a total of 161 individuals are currently unaccounted for in Kerr County, Texas, as a result of the devastating floods that occurred over the weekend. During a press conference on Tuesday, the governor also announced that 109 deaths have been reported in connection to the floods, with 94 of those occurring in Kerr County and 15 in other areas of Texas.
Liberty Hill, Texas revealed that a third person who was affected by the flood has been found alive.
There have been talks about evaluating the extent of the damage caused and the possibility of receiving federal aid for the recent floods.
Search operations are still ongoing for a person who is currently missing.
The City of Liberty Hill has also declared a state of emergency in response to the flooding situation.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 75 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/76, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.4 per hour, Sleep 10:30 P.M. to 07:10 A.M., Total 09h 40m, Deep 05h 50m, Light 05h 50m, Awake 00h 00m, Weight 272.2, 2355 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 08 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park
AGENDA: TUE July 8
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🫶Nathan & Meganne's anniversary✔️
🩺9:20 a Dr Bruce✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, A Walk Humbly with God✔️
🩺10:30 a 1401 building A MRI brain✔️
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella ✔️
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns✔️
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train✔️
WED July 9 tomorrow
🫶Adam & Leigha’s Anniversary's
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏10:00 a Canasta
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🌡️WEATHER: Day 87° Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Night 74° Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
🩸 INR: At 1.8 my INR is slightly out of range again. The doctor's office called to up the dosage of my blood thinners for today.
POKED & PRODDED: I had a blood draw for the urologist in the left arm. In the right arm I received a tracer injection for the MRI.
🩺 UROLOGIST: My PSA, from the last blood draw, was slightly above the desired reading so they drew more blood today. If it has gone up I will need a PET scan that uses a radioactive tracer to determine if the cancer has returned or spread.
🩺 IMAGINING: I had a brain scan that was ordered by the neurologist. Because I have a pacemaker it required special care during the imaging process. They used a device to set the pacemaker to MRI mode. Once I was done they turned the pacemaker back to normal function mode. I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that someone with the right equipment can turn my heart off. 😱 However it is reassuring that they did discover that I do have a brain. Now I'll have to await the final report as to whether it's normal or not.
PT: While I was being poked and prodded at one end of the medical complex Ella was having physical therapy at the other end of the facility. She reports that her left shoulder kept snapping and popping while it was being worked on.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 66 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/76, Oxygen 97%, Stopped breathing 1.4 per hour, Sleep 11:16 P.M. to 07:29 A.M., Total 08h 06m, Deep 02h 16m, Light 04h 00m, Awake 00h 07m, REM 01h 50m, Weight 272.2, 1755 Steps.
BMI 35.9, Body Fat 39.7%, Skeletal Muscle 38.7%, Fat-Free Mass 164.2 lb, Subcutaneous Fat 34.3%, Visceral Fat 18, Body Water 43.5%, Muscle Mass 156.0 lb, Bone Mass 8.2 lb ~0.0, Protein 13.8%, BMR 1967 kcal, Metabolic Age 84 0~
AFTERWARD: We went to Golden Chick for lunch. Ella surprised me by asking for catfish to eat.
🗞️NEWS:
Devastating flash floods in Texas Hill Country have caused at least 104 deaths, with dozens still missing.
The US is imposing tariffs on imports from multiple countries, including Japan and South Korea.
Measles cases in the US are the highest since 1992, with over 1,200 confirmed cases and three deaths.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in improving crop yields through enhancing photosynthesis in plants.
President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza.
Lebanon considers disarming Hezbollah in exchange for Israeli withdrawal.
👑🚂GAMES: I and four others played Five Crowns this evening. Ella and two others played Mexican Train.
📖 VERSE: Acts 19:8-10 He (Paul) entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. - NRSVUE
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 07 Monday in Round Rock and Leander
Proof of Life Photo
🗓️AGENDA MON July 7
🫶Heather & Austin’s Anniversary✔️
🐾Dog sit Truck✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🩸INR Check (Home)❌
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
🃏5:00 p Canasta✔️
TUE July 8 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
🫶Nathan & Meganne's anniversary
🩺9:20 a Dr Bruce
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, A Walk Humbly with God
🩺10:30 a 1401 building A MRI brain
🏋️11:00 a Physical Therapy/Ella (CP Reg. Bld C, #330)
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train
🌡️WEATHER: Day 85° Mostly cloudy in the morning then partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. We had no rain in our area. Humid with highs in the lower 90s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
Night 73° Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds around 5 mph.
🐾 DOG SIT: Truck woke me at around four thirty this morning seemingly wanting out the door. Once out He immediately ran into the yard. It was dark so I'm not sure what he was doing. But I assume he was taking care of business. About 5 minutes later he came back up to the door and what it in. I let him in and he immediately went and jumped on the bed which is why the bed cover has paw prints.
Evidently the water that is licked from the deck is better than the water in his bowl.
NEWS:
The number of fatalities is increasing: According to authorities, a minimum of 82 individuals have lost their lives due to the sudden floods in central Texas. Among the victims are 28 children from Kerr County, where 10 girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic are still missing, as reported by officials.
Despite ongoing searches, Governor Greg Abbott warned that flash floods remain a threat in certain parts of Texas, as more precipitation is expected. Residents in Hunt, a town located in Kerr County, were advised to relocate to higher ground this afternoon as a precaution against potential flooding.
The river's water level rapidly increased by 26 feet in just 45 minutes before dawn on Friday. This sudden surge was equivalent to several months' worth of rain. Within the first 36 hours of the search, over 850 individuals were rescued, including residents from other camps and nearby areas.
Israel, following Hamas' statement of readiness to negotiate a US-proposed 60-day ceasefire, has dispatched a delegation to Qatar.
Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has made his first public appearance since the 12-day war with Israel.
Eight men convicted of violent crimes were deported from the US to South Sudan.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 68 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/70, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 1.4 per hour, Sleep 10:58 P.M. to 09:24 A.M., Total 09h 55m, Deep 03h 47m, Light 05h 12m, Awake 00h 31m, REM 00h 56m, Weight 271.0, 2355 Steps.
CANASTA: We made it home in time to open the package of new canasta cards and play a game with friends at the apartments.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 06 Sunday in Round Rock
Proof of Life Photo
🗓️ AGENDA: SUN July 06
💒10:00 a Worship online✔️
🐾Dog sit Truck✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God ✔️
MON July 7 (Tomorrow)
🫶Heather & Austin.'s Anniversary
🐾Dog sit Truck
❤️Love your spouse
🩸INR Check (Home)
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🃏5:00 p Canasta
WORSHIP: Scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 9: 9-12. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Sermon: Good Measure Pastor Brad
LOCAL NEWS:
The devastating effects of nearly a foot of rainfall in Kerr County Texas on Friday resulted in a total of 43 individuals losing their lives. Among these fatalities were 15 children, adding to the tragedy of the situation. The storm caused flood waters to surge out of the Guadalupe River, overwhelming the Hill country area that is known for its popular summer camps.
In Leander flood waters from Big Sandy Creek destroyed homes and vehicles and caused damage to an area bridge. Thankfully no loss of life.
In Liberty Hill, sixteen individuals were forced to evacuate from Hope House due to the severity of the flooding. Along the South Fork of the San Gabriel River, residents living in mobile home parks were also evacuated as a precautionary measure. To provide temporary shelter for those displaced, emergency shelters were set up at Cross Tracks Church in Liberty Hill and other locations.
LUNCH: Cracker Barrel was busy. Who would have thought that a Sunday during a holiday weekend that people would go out for lunch.
WEATHER: Day 85° Mostly cloudy with a 75% chance for rain and thunderstorms. High temperature around 85F. Dew point will be around 76F with an average humidity of 87%. Winds will be 6 mph from the S.
Night 73° Cloudy with a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms this evening then partly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
With the ground still saturated and the streams running full it doesn't take much to trigger the warning.
DOG SIT: About five o'clock this afternoon Truck jumped to the middle of the bed shaking and shivering. I couldn't understand what was wrong. About a half hour later I heard the first cracks of thunder. Truck had heard them coming from much further away.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 85 bpm, Blood Pressure 115/79, Oxygen 96%, Stopped breathing 1.4 per hour, Sleep 11:00 P.M. to 06:30 A.M., Total 07h 30m, Deep 04h 32m, Light 02h 01m, Awake 00h 00m, REM 00h 57m, 816 Steps.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 05 Saturday in Round Rock
Proof of Life Photo
🐾DOG SIT: It is storming and Truck is staying as close to Ella as he can be. He isn't trembling but he is panting heavily.
AGENDA: SAT July 5
🐾Dog sit Truck✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
SUN July 06 tomorrow
💒10:00 a Worship online
🐾Dog sit Truck
❤️Love your spouse
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🍳BREAKFAST: Sausage, egg, and biscuit for breakfast.
♟️AFTER BREAKFAST: We played a game of Day Track
🌡️ WEATHER: There are a whole gang of alerts for our area. Three of which are flood related.
Day 79° Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It was already raining when I woke around four o'clock this morning. I went back to sleep with a big black dog huddled against me. There is a large area of storm that stretches from Corpus Christi in the south all the way north to Fort Worth which is nearly four hundred miles.
Highs predicted to be in the mid 80s with south winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
Chance of rain 50 percent.
Night 73° Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
🗞️LOCAL NEWS: Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms in Central Texas caused significant precipitation from July 2-5, resulting in three to four inches of rain in the areas north of Austin, including Round Rock, Georgetown, Leander, and Liberty Hill. Oncor Electric Delivery has reported multiple power outages throughout the region as a result. Williamson County Judge Steve Snell has declared a state of disaster due to the flooding, leading to evacuations in the western part of the county and along the South Fork of the San Gabriel River. Swift water rescue teams have saved 25 individuals in this area alone.
Due to intense rainfall and flooding along Brushy Creek, the low water crossing at North Lee Street and Summit Street in central Round Rock is closed. Other roads that have been closed include Memorial Park, Chisholm Trail Crossing, Harrell Parkway, and Old Bowman Road. Sixteen people were evacuated from Hope House in Liberty Hill and some residents in Georgetown were advised to evacuate by the Office of Emergency Management.
Emergency shelters are available at Cross Tracks Church, First United Methodist Church, Georgetown Recreation Center, and North Elementary School for those who have been affected by the floods. Residents of mobile home parks along the San Gabriel River east of Georgetown have been urged to evacuate by authorities.
Unfortunately, areas west of Central Texas such as Burnet and Kerrville have suffered even greater loss due to these storms. According to Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha , 32 fatalities have been reported so far with 18 adults and 14 children. There are still 27 people missing and over 160 air rescues have been conducted by officials. At least 23-25 campers are believed to be missing from Camp Mystic where there were approximately 750 children present during the floods.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 60 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/73, Oxygen 95%, Stopped breathing 1.4 per hour, Sleep 12:40 A.M. to 08:00 A.M., Total 07h 20m, Deep 04h 36m, Light 02h 44m, weight 269.6, 135 Steps because I walked no further than the deck on the back of the house.
📖VERSE: Luke 9:3-4 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey: no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. - NRSVUE
COMMENTARY: The disciples have just witnessed Jesus perform radical miracles. He controlled nature and powerful demons and He healed chronic disease and even death (Luke 8:22–56). Here, Jesus wants the disciples to learn to trust He can provide for and protect them even when He is not with them. He tells them to take nothing they would need on a trip. He will do this again when He empowers seventy-two disciples to go out (Luke 10:3–4).
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 04 Independence Day Friday in Leander and Round Rock
Proof of Life Photo
All three of us are fine.
🐾 DOG SIT: As of mid afternoon Truck had refused to go outside in the rain to do his business. I guess at some point the biological imperative will force him to go out.
In the early evening after the rain had stopped the three of us went out on the deck. He still refused to go down into the wet yard. He paced around on the deck until a firecracker went off quite a ways away. He then went scurrying to the door. Neither Ella or I got up to go in.
He continued to pace the deck and then go stare at the door.
He refused to sit or lay down on the deck, even in the dryer spots. But I waited him out. Shortly after six he lay down with the saddest, most disappointed look on his face. It mirrored the look on mine because he still refused to go down and go potty. I'm afraid he'll win that one because I'm tired of sitting in the uncomfortable chairs.
Finally, just as I was ready to give up and go inside, Truck went down into the yard and took care of business.
🗓️AGENDA: FRI July 4
🇺🇸Independence Day✔️
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🐾Dog sit Truck✔️
SAT July 5 tomorrow
🐾Dog sit Truck
❤️Love your spouse
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
🌡️WEATHER: Day 83° Mostly cloudy and rain all morning and through the afternoon. Round Rock, Texas ALERTS
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
Fri 1:30 PM to Fri 4:30 PM
The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for... Northwestern Travis County in south central Texas... Southwestern Williamson County in south central Texas. That's us. But we are not going anywhere that we might encounter flood waters. There are no creeks, streams, or dams near us here at the kid's house nor our apartment.
A slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Night 74° Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 64 bpm, Blood Pressure 125/75, Oxygen 96%, Stopped breathing 0.9 per hour, Sleep 03:40 A.M. to 08:00 A.M., Total 04h 20m, Deep 02h 36m, Light 01h 44m, weight 269.6, 1514 Steps,
📖VERSE: 1 Peter 2:16-17 You are free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an excuse for doing wrong. Respect everyone and show special love for God's people. Honor God and respect the Emperor. - CEV
🗣️ COMMENTARY: A Christian's conversations must be honest, which is only possible if they carefully and justly fulfill all their duties to others. The apostle discusses these duties individually here. Fulfilling these duties is God's will and, therefore, a Christian's responsibility. It's also the way to silence the baseless accusations of ignorant and foolish people. Christians must strive to behave correctly in all their relationships, ensuring they don't use their freedom as an excuse for wickedness or neglecting their duties. Instead, they must remember that they are children of God.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 03 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill
Proof of Life Photo
COFFEE KLATSCH: Lucille, Donna, Grace, Susie, Val, Joe, Diana, Joan, Rose, Larry, Donna, Ricky, Tom, and Ella were at coffee this morning.
Today we celebrated Independence Day with a cookout at OTHG.
John and Harry ended up grilling in the rain. I joked that we didn't have Whataburgers ®. We had water burgers.
After the food it was time for games: bingo, dominoes, Scrabble, Five Crowns and more.
AGENDA: THU July 3
❤️Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God ✔️
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang✔️
🛍️2:30 p HCCM✔️
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo✔️
FRI July 4 (Tomorrow)
🇺🇸Independence Day
❤️Love your spouse
🐾Dog sit Truck
🌡️WEATHER: When we woke the ground was already wet with the overnight rain. Today will be mostly cloudy with a fifty percent chance of thunderstorms and showers. (See the photo above about grilling in the rain) Our highs will be in the mid eighties. The winds will be from the southeast at five to ten miles per hour.
Tonight will be Cloudy with A slight twenty percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Temperatures will be in the mid seventies with southeast winds of five to ten miles per hour.
🛍️HCCM: Today was our food pick-up day at Hill Country Community Ministries Food Pantry. Once again there is more than we have room for or can possibly consum. That will go to the in-house food pantry that we helped start during the snowpocalypse of 2021*.
*SNOWPOCALYPSE: The term "snowpocalypse of 2021" has become synonymous with the unprecedented winter storm that hit Texas in February of that year, known as Winter Storm Uri. This powerful weather event brought extreme cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, and icy conditions, causing widespread chaos and devastation throughout the state. With temperatures dropping to record lows and power grids failing, millions of Texans were left without electricity and heat during the coldest time of the year. The storm also caused significant damage to infrastructure and resulted in tragic loss of life. Winter Storm Uri was a catastrophic event that affected all 254 counties in Texas and prompted a federal declaration of disaster. The impact of this snowpocalypse will be felt for years to come as the state continues to recover and rebuild from the damage caused by this historic winter phenomenon.
📰NEWS:
Paramount Global settled a $16M lawsuit with CBS News over a disputed interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump alleging election interference.
Ancient Egyptian DNA shows 80% North African, 20% Mesopotamian ancestry.
Air pollution and herbal medicines can cause lung cancer in non-smokers.
Microsoft to lay off 9,000 employees, following a previous round of layoffs.
US halts weapon shipments to Ukraine due to low stockpiles.
Iran blocks UN nuclear inspectors without approval.
The Trump admin imposes a 20% tariff on Vietnamese goods.
Walgreens is being bought by a private equity firm for almost $24 billion. This means that the company will no longer be publicly traded. They are also closing 1,200 stores to make their operations more efficient. This is a big change for Walgreens and its parent company.
Williamson County’s Emergency Services District No. 4 opened a new fire station in Liberty Hill. Fire Station 3 is located in the Clearwater neighborhood.
🏥HEALTH: Heart 68 bpm, Blood Pressure 119/72, Oxygen 96%, Stopped breathing 0.9 per hour, Sleep 11:00 P.M. to 07:40 A.M., Total 08h 40m, Deep 05h 36m, Light 03h 04m, weight 269.6, 2500 Steps,
📖VERSE: Ephesians 2:18-22 for through him [Jesus] both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. - NRSVUE
🗣️COMMENTARY: Jesus brings Jews and Gentiles together to have equal access to God. This is a new idea because in the past they were kept separate. This shows that Jesus' message is meant for everyone, not just a select group of people. Believers are united by the Holy Spirit, which is a spiritual connection, not just a physical one. This unity is real and strong, making believers part of God's family with all the rights and privileges that come with it. This brings everyone together as equals, not as outsiders, showing the inclusive love and grace of God.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 02 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
Proof of Life Photo
☕COFFEE KLATSCH: I took no photos so I have to go by memory as to who was and who wasn't there. As I recall myself, Dianna, Michelle, Andrea, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Ella, Donna, Donna, and Ricky were there. My bride and I left at 9:30 to go to Liberty Hill.
🃏CANASTA at OTHG: Myself, Sandy, Ann, Nathern, and Ella played cards this morning. Nathern won.
🌡️WEATHER: Today, the weather forecast predicted a hot and humid day with a high of 90°. The day started off partly cloudy, providing some relief from the intense heat, but as the day progressed, it became mostly cloudy there was a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Just before evening we received some light rain with no thunder and no storm. The winds started off from the southwest but shifted to the southeast in the afternoon. There was a 20 percent chance of rain, so it was advised to keep an umbrella handy just in case. The night brought some relief from the heat, with temperatures dropping to a more comfortable 76°. However, it remained cloudy throughout the night with south winds between 5 to 10 mph. Overall, as was expected it became a warm and muggy day with a little “realized potential” for rain and thunderstorms.
🗓️ AGENDA: WED July 2
❤️ Love your spouse✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🃏10:00 a Canasta✔️
🙏 Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God✔️
THU July 3 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
👵👴11:00 a Over The Hill Gang
🛍️2:30 p HCCM
🅱️🔟6:00 p Bingo
COBBLER: Ella, an dessert maker, decided to switch things up with her weekly cobbler recipe by incorporating unsweetened apple pie filling and a layer of rich no-baie cheesecake. Topping it off with a blend of dry cake mix and butter. The cobbler looked and smelled divine coming from the oven. However, as a diabetic, I made the conscientious decision to resist indulging in her creation when she takes it to Over The Hill Gang lunch tomorrow. While it may be tempting, I know the importance of limiting the sweets in my diet and will try my best best to resist the temptation. But with such a mouth-watering cobbler in front of me, it won't be an easy task. Nonetheless, Ella is excited to share her variant of cobbler with her friends and see their reactions tomorrow.
NEWS:
A new immigration detention center opened in Florida's Everglades called "Alligator Alcatraz,"
The US Senate approved President Trump's tax and policy bill,
Malaysia banned plastic waste imports from non-compliant countries, including US
The University of Pennsylvania is banning transgender women from women's sports,
MIT is developing technology to help robots identify defects in warehouses.
Israel accepted a ceasefire plan for Gaza
🏥HEALTH: Heart 70 bpm, Blood Pressure 109/76, Oxygen 99%, Stopped breathing 2.3 per hour, Sleep 12:20 A.M. to 08:20 A.M., Total 08h 00m, Deep 04h 26m, Light 03h 34m, weight 267.6, 1245 Steps,
📖VERSE: Matthew 8:28-34
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?"
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine."
And he said to them, "Go then!"
They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
🗣️COMMENT: What a plot twist! The demon possessed were freed. A road that people feared to travel was now safe. Great. Or at least I would think that was time for celebrating and welcoming this stranger named Jesus. But no. They feared him and asked him to leave.
Was the loss of the pigs that big of a deal?
Have you ever pitched in to help someone only to be told, “Mind you're own business.” It happens.
What are we to do when our good intentions are rejected?
Jesus left them. And what did he advise his disciples? In Luke 10:10-11 it reads, “But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’” The moral of the story is this: didn't continue to struggle with those who reject you. Move on to those with whom you can work. Perhaps someone else may be able to reach them at another time. But it is a waist of your time trying to convince someone who's mind is closed to you.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
2025 July 01 Tuesday in Leander and Liberty Hill
Proof of Life Photo
BREAKFAST: Ella and I were excited to take a short drive to Liberty Hill to join the group of guys from Over The Hill for breakfast. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, they gather for coffee and catch up on the latest gossip. But on the first Tuesday of every month, they switched things up and had a special treat - biscuits and gravy with sausage. This week they invited other members from the group to join them. The thought of delicious biscuits and gravy made our mouths water as we drove up the toll road service road to Liberty Hill. As we arrived, we were greeted with warm smiles and hearty handshakes from the guys. We joined in on their lively conversations and shared some laughs while indulging in the tasty breakfast spread. It was a wonderful morning filled with good food, good company, and a strong sense of community among the OTHG. We were grateful to be a part of such a welcoming group and looked forward to many more breakfasts together.
COFFEE KLATSCH: Grace, Suzie, Val, Jo, Donna, Sylvia, Muriel, Ella, Donna, Ricky, Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Sandy, Maria, and I were all sitting around the tables at our apartment's community room. The lively chatter and laughter filled the air as we caught up with each other's lives. It was a regular tradition for us to meet up for coffee every morning. Today was even more special as Sylvia, Muriel's sister from Brooklyn, was visiting for about a week. We were all excited to meet her and hear her stories about life in the big city. Sylvia fit right in with our group and we all instantly clicked with her.
AGENDA: TUE July 1
❤️Love your spouse✔️
🥟8:30 a Biscuits And Gravy ✔️
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills✔️
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God ✔️
👑5:00 p 5 Crowns✔️
🚂5:00 p Mexican Train✔️
WED July 2 tomorrow
❤️Love your spouse
☕9:00 a Coffee at the Hills
🃏10:00 a Canasta
🙏Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God
WEATHER: Day 96° Partly cloudy. Hazy. Highs in the mid 90s. West winds around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Night 76° Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.
NEWS:
Many schools in France were closed, and several cities in Italy are on high heat alert. Record temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded in Portugal and Spain. This heat wave is caused by a large area of high pressure bringing hot weather from southern Europe to Turkey.
The US canceled visas for members of a British rap punk duo because they led a chant at Glastonbury Festival saying "death to IDF," referring to the Israeli Defense Force.
Harvard is "in violent violation" of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the federal government’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said Monday in a letter threatening to cut all the university's federal funding if changes aren't made.
👑5 CROWNS: Six of us (Lucille, Cindy, Jane, Fran, Ann, and I played cards this evening. I did not win.
🚂MEXICAN TRAIN: Ella, Sandy, and Maureen played dominoes this evening. They don't keep score so there are no winners or losers. That's why I don't play.
©2025 Thomas E Williams
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