What's Behind the Colorful Fabric

I have had some very specific requests lately and they are obviously not "according to His will" because nothing is happening.  Sometimes I just get so stinkin' weary with this here thing called life.

I can totally relate to the Psalmist who says, "...my soul has had enough."  (Psalm 88:3)

Why can't everything just "work out".  I would like to order the comfortable life, please.  

I suspect the comfortable life has no need for God.  I feel sure I wouldn't run to Him if everything was all "peachy king".

I have had conversations with my girls this week that I wouldn't trade for the world...or even for the comfortable life.  

I have felt the sweetness of communion with Him.

Though my troubles feel BIG and my "soul has had enough"...

I have not suffered to the point of shedding blood.  

These trials are producing in me a steadfastness that only He can bring.

And so I will take this here life...

however He sends it.  

So thankful to truly know the hope, and faith, and rest, and trust that comes with a life lived in Him.  I don't really want to do life any other way.

The River's gonna Keep on Rollin'  (A. Grant)

Afternoon Plans

 

Of course I was itching to sew.  I had a plan.  It was going to be an afternoon curled up with the sewing machine.  I was counting down the minutes.

Then I got a call.  

"Hey.  Can you come help me.  My truck won't start."

"Sure!  I'm on my way."

I found him in a shady spot in a neighborhood up the road.  I pulled up.  With our vehicles nose to nose, he tried to jump it off.  No luck.  He called our mechanic and sent me for an additional set of jumper cables.

We tried again.  No luck.  He called a tow truck.

We sat in my air conditioned vehicle and waited...together.  It was an unexpected afternoon of conversation... sort of a "Waiting on the Tow Truck" date.

When I finally got home, the girls had cleaned the bathrooms, dusted, and finished up all the clothes... even folded and put away.

Grateful for:

 the privilege of being a helpmate.
that the "break down" happened on a day when I am out of school for the summer and available to help.
how he responded to the huge interuuption in his day and schedule.
an unexpected afternoon of conversation with the one I most like to be with.
nice tow truck people.
shady spot.
children delighted to serve.
clean bathrooms.

Praying for:
an inexpensive fix:)

 You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.  Proverbs 16:9 

(Good News Translation)

 

 

Memorial Day Gratitude

 For spontaneous celebrations with burgers and brats... 

and the simple fun of a water hose.

For willing men and women who serve 

even though the cost is great and freedom isn't free.

For the ultimate freedom I have in Christ to rest 

and not fear the temporary trouble of this world.

For how they wake and curl up on the couch with yogurt... and His Word.

For seven little munchkins learning to swim and the privilege of teaching them.  

For the joy it brings to hear their thoughts.

For bearable temps in the pool...brrrr.

 For the gift of a school year ending on a happy note.

For the gift of a summer break.

 For a garden growing.

For new bathing suits.

For gracious hosts and festive atmospheres and belly laughs...

in spite of the weight of life.

For plans to look forward to.  

For how they work it out...without me.  

For the things he says with no effort.. that encourage and make me feel special.

 

 For strawberry "picking" and the privilege of a patch just up the road.

For new babies... all full and healthy, arriving on a memorable day!

For tradition with a twist... 

a flag cake with sugar cookie dough and sweetened cream cheese!

For Hank...and how he snuggles!!

For the questions she asks and the depth of her wisdom.

For this!...one of our favorites, and singing at the top of our lungs.

 For how a song of thanks steadies everything.

Steadfast

The steadfast love

of the Lord never ceases.

His mercies never

come to an end.

They are new

every morning,

new

every

morning.

Great

is

Thy

Faithfulness,

Oh God.

Great is Thy

Faithfulness.

(A treat!)

Celebrating Caleb

 

 Caleb turns 14 today!  His mother shared a super fun request for his birthday:

This week we will celebrate Caleb's birthday! While our journey with Caleb is not always an easy one, there is much to rejoice over and be thankful for. The same way I am confident our Heavenly Father rejoiced in perfectly creating Caleb! I enjoy birthdays but buying presents for Caleb has always been difficult. He is happy with simple things! So this year I thought of a different kind of present...serving and loving others by doing random acts of kindness in honor of Caleb's special day. You could pay the parking meter beside you, tape quarters to a vending machine, pay for the person behind you in the drive thru line, help someone load their groceries, return the carts to the store, send a letter to someone you love...ANYTHING...And think of Caleb! He has taught us so much about unconditional love. If you do something, please snap a pic and post it. I'd love to collect all the photos for his scrapbook. Who wants to celebrate with us this week?

Such a delightful way to celebrate the birthday of one so dear.  

We wasted no time making plans!

  

Confession:  The warm Chick Fil A chocolate chunk cookies did tempt us to eat all fourteen ourselves in his honor...

 But we decided to share them with others.

 We shared them with our pastor and his wife who dearly love Caleb.  They had never had a Chick Fil A cookie before!  Where have you been???   

(We informed them that their lives will never be the same.)

 We also shared them with our Associate pastor...

...and Mrs. Susie who makes the world go round.  (She does!)

We shared them with Mr. Greg, our local children's home director... 

and dear friend of Caleb and his family.

 And we flagged down our postman who gladly accepted this ooey gooey offer and a cold mason jar of milk.

We found all the Rosses working hard and needing a cookie break...perfect timing!

And we found two of Caleb's favorite buddies... Mrs. Jennifer and Mrs. Vicki.

And Mr. Andy got the final treat.  He has been working hard this week to make Caleb's new pool look beautiful for his first swim.  (He might have shared a bite with me!)

It was a unique way to celebrate an amazingly unique young man!  

Happy 14th Birthday, Caleb!

I'm so glad you were born!