All Before Lunch

All before lunch!!! Here's a before and after picture of what we did this morning. As you can see, we do live in the woods and everything is not always picture perfect, especially with no shed as yet, to hide all our STUFF in. I'm so thankful for Mom's help! Ruger also cheers us on from the middle of the driveway (as he lounges or sleeps). We got many of the berry bushes which were threatening to devour our yard and eventually the corner of the house. We left some which are already berry-laden, but they're now contained to a smaller space.

Yesterday we worked on the little terraced hill in front of the house. There are those tomato plants; leaning, reaching for the sun. Syd's bringing home tomato cages today. I did still leave 5 or 6 of those still-unknown stalks growing there. They resemble something from a Dr. Seuss story, especially once the tassle forms. If anyone knows what they are I'd appreciate your letting me know. I like them and they do pull up very easily, if need be.

That was our morning. Now on to mowing up on the hill.
Hope your day is an industrious one - that is, if you want it to be. Enjoy whatever comes into your life today!

In Memory of Friends

Recently I had a day out with the girls. All we did was go to lunch, but at a place reserved for only our special days. We poked around in a fancy bric-a-brac store, then a thrift shop. It was such a nice afternoon. As I sat at lunch I thought of all the girlfriends - spread far and wide - that I wished could be there.

A friend is such a special thing. Syd is my best friend on earth, and we do everything together. Last night he said that he was planning on getting out of work a bit early today, so as not to go into overtime. My first thought, "where do we want to go?" He went on to say that he thought he'd go fishing. That is a good thing - and I hope he takes a friend. I remember two fishing trips that Syd took with buddies. I have never seen him any happier than he was after those week-long trips! I'm convinced that it was the time with other guys; and in this case, time in fellowship in the Bible with these men. How important it is to spend time talking to others who are like you, and with whom you have a special connection.

The following is a poem I wrote about a special friend of mine. She and I are spread far apart by miles now. I miss her a lot, but we still connect every time we talk.

Friend
Someone to share a feeling, a sigh, a sadness;
This is my friend.
We remember a joke, a memory, a single happening
like it was yesterday.
Though it is long gone, it lives on between us.
One word can bring it back
to both of us at the same time.
The feeling of mirth is reborn and we toss our heads back
like we did that very day!
This is why you're so close to my heart.
This is my friend.

Today I hope that you can enjoy a special memory of a friend, or better yet, spend time with one!

The Glamorless Now

Does anyone remember glamour? I remember during my teen years, thinking my future would be full of glamour. I was 18 when we were first married, and things were never glamorous, perhaps, but I felt that they were. In decorating, Country Living was my guide then. I would pour over my most recent magazine; pulling things out of the closet or nearby yard sale to make the house look just like that picture! Of course, now I prefer House Beautiful (still look over the Country Living though at times). We drove junk cars and went to the local ballfield for entertainment, but those early years seemed so glamorous! Bradley was a baby and he never had the best stroller, or designer clothes (I preferred those cute striped shirts that rode up over his fat little belly), but just thinking back on those years brings all the comfy thoughts waving over my soul.

Now that I'm older I have almost lost the desire for glamor. Don't get me wrong, there are days that I feel so "together" (especially when I head out to clothes-shop, perhaps) that I still get a glamor-twinge. My brother brought an "extractor" up to the Hill last weekend. He helped me EXTRACT dirt out of my car! Have you ever "extracted"!? It's incredible. We have always kept seat covers on our car seats, but guess what...DIRT gets right through those. The water was BLACK when he finished and I vowed that Ruger would never get back in that car again! I put new covers on as soon as the seats were dry on Saturday and Ruger still has not gotten on the front seat, as I have something "parked" there at all times!

When riding in the car over the past few days, it feels so glamorous to be in such a clean car!!

Today I was reading from an old book by Vance Havner. That man can say, in so few words, more than anyone I know. He was saying that George Muller kept on his desk a motto bearing the central words of Hebrews 13:8, "AND TODAY" ("Jesus Christ; the same yesterday, and today, and forever."). He goes on to say, "-what a time we have with that middle span! Amid the dull monotony of things as they are, when the skies seem leaden and nothing breaks on the uninteresting scene, it is easier to visualize the Christ of the Galilean Past or the Christ of the Glorious Future than to expect great things from the Christ of the Glamourless Now."..."He said that He would be with us 'all the days' (of our life), and that includes today."

This was a blessing to me and it is what started me thinking about how much glamor I used to imagine and desire. I am so thankful that the Lord has made me extremely happy in the everyday! Sometimes I think that if I had more, I would be so estatic that no one would be able to stand me. No doubt there are many who can't anyway, but that's okay. Then there are those days when the skies are leaden and nothing breaks on the uninteresting horizon, and I forget just how He is with me TODAY!

Talk about glamor! check out this glorious trillium!

As I move into today, I hope that the Lord keeps my eyes open to Himself. I have committed it to Him and He is the one who is doing the work; therefore if I fail, it is because I've turned to the right hand or to the left!

I hope you have a wonderful day. It's an adventure!

Don't Upset My Nest

We go along our way --never really knowing what our lives are reflecting to others. As a human being, I can only measure my impact on the life of another by what I see of myself. I suppose few of us have even one friend who is faithful enough to want to sharpen us, "as iron sharpeneth iron".

My nest was upset this week. A strong wind swept over and really ruffled my feathers.

Have you ever been misunderstood? --as when a person has come in and robbed us of earthly treasures; we feel violated. Vengance even threatens to overtake us.

In meditation, these word come to me...

I walk along a well-lit path; soft grass and flowers at my feet.
Whistling with crickets; singing the song of breeze and birds.

A word wafts past my ear - "what's that?"
Dark, bitter, unkind --
What have I to hurl back in return?

Rocks appear to trip my feet; Sharp fingers of thorns threaten to reach out and tear the skin.
As foot succumbs to an unseen stone - I fall, headlong to the earth.

A stream spreads wide before my face;
Listen to the cleansing flow.
Pulling myself to its banks, I drink it in ---
"my grace is sufficient for thee"
"fret not thyself in any wise to do evil"
"take no thought for your life"...
--trickles over me.

I sit, feet plunged into the flowing brook; yielding to its pure cool.

The sound of a dove from a nearby flowering shrub leads me back to a mossy path --
--the path of acknowledgement.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

I am reminded that all that we can do, and all God asks us to do is walk before Him honestly,
"with open face, beholding in a glass the glory of the Lord."
I read once that God does not give us discernment so that we may criticize, but so that we may intercede.

It's another beautiful day on the hill. I hope that you experience no ruffled feathers today and that your nest is soft and comfortable. Thanks so much for visiting; come often.

Victory in the Battle!

Every heart ought to be a "Victory Garden" - Vance Havner.

My garden is not large but so far it is winning in the battle over outside forces. We have a lot of tree cover on the South and East side of our home so my tomato plants are all severely leaning; stretching their arms toward the Northwest. They appear to be taking part in an exercise class. I must buy some cages to keep them from going over. In my mom's small flower bed we work at freeing the beautiful plants from the wild potato vine that creeps up from the field and has made his way around the rock walls. This silent enemy comes and wraps his tiny fingers around the stems and would soon, apart from outside intervention, engulf whole plants.

This is the weekend set aside to remember our country's independence. I am thankful for those who have given their lives to stand up for our freedom. They bridge the gap between the enemy vine who would come in to choke us out.

One thing that our soldiers cannot fend off is the attitude that is sweeping over the thought-processes in much of our nation. These new ideals want to destroy all mention of Jesus Christ and tolerate any religion or lifestyle EXCEPT that which upholds Biblical standards. It wants no mention of God as the Creator and will no longer inform our young children that Evolution is only a theory. This mindset is also encouraging the masses to turn their back on the nation of Israel; posing them as a threat to the world.

Jesus Christ came 2000 years ago to truly set people free by His death and shed blood for our sin, on the cross; and by His resurrection from the grave; Victory over death! The true enemy-vine is Satan. He is the beginning and the end of all corruption. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the true "Alpha and Omega". God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost brought everything into being and will wrap everything up in the end! This is true victory!