a Swindoll quote

Those people who impact lives stay at the
task with reliable regularity. They seem
unaffected by the fickle winds of change.
They're consistent.

Charles R. Swindoll

home

One sweetly solemn thought
comes to me o'er and o'er;
I am nearer home today
Than i ever have been before.

Phoebe Cary

Making yourself at home in God now is a good "getting-ready" for heaven. When we arrive at the house made ready in the heavens, it will be glorious beyond our poor words to say. But we'll feel at home. For that is where we'll be!

Vance Havner, from A Treasury of Vance Havner

gift giving

now that i’m back to work for a season (all for a reason, only for a season), Leo has tried to take over some of the necessary shopping ... but he has discovered that after a little bit of walking, his legs don’t want to hold him up anymore ... he needs to lean on counters or stoop ... not much fun ...

the topic of a cane has come up ... he does have my grandmother’s cane to use on bad days, but he needed one that was appropriate for his height ... we talked about a walking stick too ... they don’t look quite as "disabling" as a cane ...

when i got back to work i shared this with my gal pals ...

well ... a week later, i got to work and lo' and behold, there were 2 walking sticks in my work area ... a 4 footer and a staff that can be cut down to whatever length Leo wants ... compliments of one gal pal’s husband, who works with wood as a hobby ...

needless to say, we felt blessed by such a wonderful and personal gift ... i feel like i am being blessed beyond measure and i don’t know how to "repay" the generosity and kindness of folks ...


then to top it all off ... one of the guys brought in real homemade cheesecake for coffee on Friday ... mmmmm, i love cheesecake ... i actually walk around the office saying "mmmm, i love cheesecake" which makes everyone laugh - but it seems to bring in the cheesecake too!

SO now it is Saturday evening ... Leo and i have visited, i’ve had phone visits with the family and quiet time in the recliner with a book ... i think my batteries have charged up a bit ...

i feel rested ... and just happy ... how ‘bout you?

Friday night

i wasn't sure if i was going to post anything tonight ... but here i am ... tap tapping away ... :o)

i just finished reading blogs and i never realized how much a part of my life you all have become ... i truly have missed my "reads" ... i can't get to all the blogs i read daily, like i used to in the winter ... so for the past 2 weeks i have tried to do a 3 times a week read ...

i have become such a computer geek ... and i don't think that is a bad thing ... loving the computer ... the internet ... starting to blog has only blessed my life ...

i have composed posts on the 30 minute (highway time) drive to work ... posts that will never see the light of day, but it keeps me focused ... and i like that ...

unfortunately my eyes are crossing (and burning too) ... a sure sign that maybe i should just go creep into bed now ... y-a-w-n ... but i couldn't do that until i posted a little "thank you Lord, for blogging buds" ... so before my head hits the keyboards, i guess i will close for the night ...

the Lord gives His servants rest ... and that's a good thing!

running behind

life has been different in our household ... i feel like i'm running behind ... i guess i shouldn't make all these schedules for myself ... not that i'm feeling down or harrassed, just "behind" !!!!

even our loyal feline is missing me not being around ... he constantly sits on my lap when i'm reading my bible, the paper or trying to write notes ... Leo says he starts to meow and walk around the house if i'm not home by 5 ...

BUT soon i switch over to working weekends and then my schedule will be 4 days on, 3 days off ... that will be more manageable ... my men folk (leo and the cat!) will be happier ... me too ...

off to hit the sack ... i've discovered that mornings seem to come earlier when there is an alarm clock involved ... *laughing* ...

good thought 

just a thought

"Worry is an old man with bended head, carrying a load of feathers which he thinks are lead."
. . . Corrie ten Boom

If i could be ...

i was tagged by Gayla to answer five out of this list of "if's". so, here goes ...

The "questions": If I could be a scientist...If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician...If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter...If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary...If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect...If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist...If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete...If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an inn-keeper...If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer...If I could be a llama-rider...If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be an astronaut...If I could be a world famous blogger...If I could be a justice on any one court in the world...If I could be married to any current famous political figure...

IF i could be a scientist ... i would have hair standing straight up, wear wrinkled clothes and mismatched socks ... i’d be speaking english, but no one would understand because all the words would be atleast the 75 cent variety ... and i’d discover cures for all known and unknown diseases .... Leo would be pain free ... my sisters wouldn’t be diabetics ... name it, and i’d discover the cure for it! ...... AND i would be quite happy to stop here with my "If i could be ..." !!!!!

IF i could be a librarian ... the library i work in, would have gleaming floors, with scatter rugs, comfy chairs and a cat for each lap ... the books would only uplift and edify ... the light coming through the windows would sooth tired eyes ... hmmmm, maybe it’s the library of heaven?

IF i could be a painter ... i could finally capture all of nature’s beauty with bold colours and imagination ... i would, of course, be covered in paint from head to toe, but wouldn’t notice because my eye would be on the next master piece that would bring comfort and joy to all those that beheld it ...

IF i could be a musician ... i would be able to jam with my brother and really understand his love for creating music ...

IF I could be a llama rider ... after i got over my fear of llama’s that can spit at me and try to bite ... i would ride off into the sunset at the end of a day filled with "what ifs" ... bouncy bouncy bouncy ... :o)

i won’t tag anyone for this ... BUT if you like, post on your blog and let me know ... it’s a fun mental exercise ... thanx Gayla...

to number our days

No bliss I seek, but to fulfill

In life, in death, Thy lovely will;

No succour in my woes I want,

Except what Thou art pleased to grant.

Our days are numbered - let us spare

Our anxious hearts a needless care;

'Tis Thine to number out our days,

And ours to give them to Thy praise.

-Mme Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717)

sunday morning ... where'd the weekend go?

tomorrow is Monday again ... a work Monday ... and i was just drinking coffee and thinking about what i gleaned from my first week back at the "salt mines in the park" and away from leo ... blogging helps me sort out my own thoughts, so here goes:

- i slipped back into my job, like slipping into comfy old slippers ...
- i definitely like my work buds ... and thank the Lord for their many kindnesses ...
- leo misses me, and seems a bit lost and overwhelmed at times ... the simple tasks seem monumental to him, because his body is still on a faster downhill spiral ...
- i need to read my bible in the evenings, rather than mornings ... must be flexible! ...
- i love my house and it's comforts ... yet ... ? ... to be prayed about ...
- i miss my daily blog reads ... now where is that high speed when a person needs it!!!! *smiling*

those are the thoughts that come easily to the forefront ... i still have a peace that surrounds me and a sure knowledge that i need to put into practise what i've learned over the winter ... can't just talk the talk ... must walk the walk too ...

sending blessings out into the blogworld and to those of you who stopped by ... may your Monday and your whole week, have a sense of the Lord's sweet Spirit in it ...

a day in the park

my first week at the park is now behind me ... and i am almost back into that work mindset ... it was a good week ... a busy week ...

now i am tired and ready to sleep in until atleast 8 a.m. tomorrow ... that is, if the pepster will let me ... our big old black cat likes to get me moving in the morning ... he doesn't like "his people" to lie about too long ... not when there are morning treats to feed him ... *smile* ...

i wanted to leave you with a few scenes from my work day ...

some Canadian Shield poking through the rugged scenery .... which really will be absolutely lovely in another month!



a mama bear with her 2 cubs ... the mama actually stood up on her hind legs to look at our vehicle, but my digi camera didn't come on quickly enough to capture that ... the cubs look like they are second summer cubs ...

God's handiwork is all around me on a daily basis ... i breath it in and out with gladness ... thankful for what my eyes behold ...

Every Moment of the Day

Every moment of the day -

My Father cares for me,

Ev'ry moment of the day -

My heart from fear is free;

He who sees the sparrow fall -

Will hear my call;

Ev'ry moment of the day

God watches over me.

Harry Dixon Loes

thankfulness

this morning's reading out of Elisabeth Elliot's "God's Guidance" was encouraging ... i try to keep a spirit of thankfulness throughout the day (with differing degrees of success!) ... so i wanted to share this little quote out of her book on that subject ... she said it so well ...

"It is even possible to be thankful for the valley of the shadow, not because we like it or find anything to enjoy in that fearsome ravine but because we have been told ahead of time that it is not the end of the journey. It is on the way to the Lord's house, and when we get there we'll know it was worth enduring any trouble along the way.

The chances are, however, that while we happen to be in the middle of the trouble it doesn't look like anything but trouble. It doesn't occur to us to compare it with the biblical illustrations, and if someone suggested we do this, we might laugh. "You want me to think spiritually about this? Why, it's got nothing to do with the will of God or the path of righteousness or any of that. It's nothing but bad luck."

The Scriptures have a way of covering all the possibilities. Our bad luck can be transformed if we do one simple thing: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ... The circumstances may not look even remotely like the will of God, but to give thanks in (not necessarily for) them is the will of God. That much we can do." quoted from page 75-76 - God's Guidance

back to the salt mines in the park

well it was back to the salt mines in the park ... yes, i smile when i say that!

and every season i wonder, will the snow be off the lake? as you can see by the picture above, yes in-dee-dee ... it was! this is my regular, every day view, at the office ... i know, how can i stand it?

it was a very good first day back ... the office was teaming with my work buds ... i brought some blueberry pie for morning coffee - and that was the only coffee break of the day ... it was so busy that i was rather surprised when 4:30 rolled around ... and poor Leo was even more surprised because he had forgotten that i was heading into the city, rather than coming home ... voi voi ...

this first week always tends to be hectic and busy ... we have to set up new routines and prioritize ... but a change is a good thing ... over the winter, i tend to be like the old hibernating bear and usually need a good boot before i leave my cave!

my time in the city was a little more hectic ... i've become such a country girl that the faster pace and crowded areas tend to feel confining ... i was quite happy at the end of the day, to come home to my men (Leo and the cat, that is!) ...

and it's mid-week tomorrow .... already?????

"I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize. ..." Philipians 3:14

dispositions

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." —Martha Washington

Sunday morning thoughts

i'm drinking my coffee ... thinking about how quickly the winter has gone by ... how much i've learned over this season ... how there are NO coincidences with God ... and how thankful i am for all of you, my blogging buds, who He has put in my path ... the patterns of our lives that the Master Weaver creates are unique to each of us ... and how lovely it is when our patterns are interwoven through different times of our lives ...

today we are having a late Easter Sunday dinner at my aunts ... much of the family will be there ... then tomorrow is my first day of work for the Season ... i drive into the city right after work because of appointments for Tuesday ... my life changes ... i will miss my daily blog read ... i will have to catch up as i can ...

Leo's life changes too ... his wife won't be around ... but his pain will still be his 24/7 companion ... one of my constant prayers for him is "Lord help him to be comfortable, to feel better" ... i've tried so many variations of prayer for him ... of course there is always "Thy will be done" ... some summers have been quite pleasant for him ... but we do miss each other (even after ALL these years) when we aren't hanging out together ...

this is just a little ramble ... taking advantage of it ... while i can ...

my prayer for this season is "Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness ... make Thy way straight before my face ... " Psalm 5:8 ...

over the winter season, He has "put gladness in my heart" ... and part of the reason is you ... Lord bless your Sunday and your week ...

dream big

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened up a new heaven to the human spirit. - Helen Keller

tuckered out

i’ve been using different muscles these past few days ... not the shoveling snow, carrying wood muscles ... but the squatting, while trimming the round sidewalk stone muscles ... now i am all stiff, walking around like the middle aged woman i actually am ... groan ... i’m supposed to be going to work on Monday!!! but will i make it out the door ... ? ... *smiling*

this got me to thinking about my spiritual muscles ... this winter there has been a learning spurt, a desire to walk more in the way that Jesus taught ... i feel a growth of my faith muscles ... but i’ve only tested them here at home and definitely only a few of the muscle groups! ... NOW that i will be venturing out into the world again, there will be new areas to work those faith biceps ... leaving my comfort zone and known victories ... stretching and venturing into a larger arena ...

my desire is to be a believer who is using my ALL ... that is my prayer ...

i’ll keep you posted on how it goes ... but for tonight, i think i will just go to bed early!

Before her time

Ruth Bell Graham was blogging before her time ... many of her books read like the most interesting and popular of blogs ... one of my favourites, Legacy of a Pack Rat, i posted about in December ...


in it she recounts stories from her journal, shares poems and quotes others who's words have spoken to her heart ... it is such an uplifting book, that i had to mention it again ... if you are a blogger, then this is a wonderful find, a woman "posting" before her time!

from page 59 of Legacy ... "Interruptions never distracted Jesus. He accepted them as opportunities of a richer service. Interruptions were the occasion of some of His most gracious deeds and revealing words." - G.H. Morling, Quest for Serenity.

Another book of Ruth's, Prodigals and Those who Love Them, is written in the same manner ... great little stories, funny quips & quotes, as well as her own wise thoughts, such as this from page 44 ... "A weary Christian lay awake one night trying to hold the world together by his worrying. Then he heard the Lord gently say to him, "Now you go to sleep, Jim; I'll sit up."


i hear that Ruth Bell Graham's health is quite poor at the moment ... she suffers from chronic back pain (plus other things) like leo ... the Lord knows our frame and what we can endure, so i won't question ... i would just ask that He bless this precious lady ... her many many books that i've read, have sure lifted my heart and spirit on numerous occasions ... if you are wondering about a book, and it has her name on it as author ... wonder no more - buy it - it will be a GOOD uplifting read and GOOD for you too!

sharing another season

i started blogging in the Fall ... i shared pictures of that season ... then came our bitter, cold winter ... more sharing of photo's ...

now "spring has sprung, the grass is riz, but i wonders where the flowers is?" *smile* . . . here is our backyard as of a few hours ago ... you can see the grass is trying it's best to turn green, there is only a hint of ice at the mouth of the channel ... but alas ... no flowers yet ...

i had a busy day of "tieing up loose ends" before work starts on Monday ... tho' it was busy, it felt great to have a warm sun to gently embrace me at every turn ... i could smell the "good earth" as it sucked in huge gulps of springtime, starving for more with each breath ... mmmm, it was a good day ...

"Thou has put gladness in my heart" ... Psalm 4:7 ... may He put gladness into your heart as well!