Today’s blog, late in the day, is going to be a review of the day, a smattering of activities. The purpose of this is to show some of the elements that make up a life.

1. Got up and walked the dog. This is a regular weekend (Saturday/Sunday) thing.I do this by using the bicycle and the Walky Dog attachment. The dog had surgery on Wednesday. It was supposed to be a dental cleaning combined with the removal of a cyst on his head. As part of the cleaning they discovered a cracked tooth we had removed. Because of the cyst he has a shaved patch on his head and stiches. So when we aren’t with him he wears a “cone of shame” (allusion to UP) so he doesn’t scatch it. But on our walk he got 30 minutes atd 3.4 miles of cone free exercise.
2. Got ready for my first race of the Progress Series
3. Drove to Parkville and ran in “Your Fastest Personal Record Mile”. Mine was 6:51. More on that in Monday’s fitness blog
4. Came home and got the family ready for the regular Saturday library/lunch run. Betsy stayed home and relaxed (her infected tooth is getting  better on antibiotics until she sees dentist Monday, but still best to rest and keep the pain medicine at appropriate levels).
5. Drove to the library to drop of/pick up holds.
6. Drove to Sam’s club for four “pizza combo” lunches. Had one wrapped to bring home to Betsy. Only thing on shopping list was milk and granola bars. Ended up also leaving with Lipton Citrus Tea (my vocal drink of choice when singing), maple syrup (for waffles/crepes that we often have on weekends). Also picked up chocolate milk when white was only thing on list. Dangerous to let me shop.
7. Came home and watch Babylon 5 on DVD from Library. Kids played games on Wii and computer while Betsy and I napped.
8. I went out on a leisurely bike ride in the 50-degree weather. Came home two hours later after dark in a gentle, soothing mist/drizzle.
9. Sat around home reading, listening to Pandora radio on our new TV, and eating supper/snack of pizza, chocolate milk, and a lettuce and tomato salad with blue cheese dressing (Only I ate salad).
10. Next thing to snuggle in bed and sleep before church/work (for Betsy at McDonalds) in the morning.

We don’t often think what a blessing a weekend is. People in the past often had one day off a week, for religious observance — and the sabbath itself is an amazing advancement over the times prior to it (see below video):

But I wanted to comment on the blessing we have of so much time for leisure, and so many leisure things to do. My comment today is on blessing, and thanksgiving, for leisure, and rest, and the family and friends to enjoy it all with.

There are many people who have less than I do, around me. There are many people who have more. But who I pity most does not depend on how much or how little they have; it is based on how thankful or not they are for the blessing they have. A lack of thankfulness is one of the greatest curses.

Yes, we should be discontent with things as they are, enough to make sure we try to improve them. But those who find no content with things as they are, are the ones to be truly pitied. And our media shows us many of them today.  We need the right sort of discontent.

Philippians 4:10-12 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

GODSPEED